More about this song
The song 'Young Jockey was the blythest lad' first appeared in the Scots Musical Museum in 1790. Written from a female perspective, the song is a light-hearted depiction of female desire - a common theme of Burns's folk song.
As the poet's female character observes the object of her affection dancing ('Fu' lightly danc'd he in the ha') her own arousal is made clear ('An ay my heart came to my mou').
In the second stanza Burns's female character might be considered to assert ownership of her lover, 'my Jockey', and her desire is realized: 'When in his arms he takes me a';/ An ay he vows he'll be my ain'.
Pauline Mackay
