Ossian - named after the legendary 3rd century Celtic Bard and folk hero, was formed in 1976, and this was their first album of Scottish/Celtic music - released in 1997 on CD. The band went on to record a series of albums on their own 'Iona' label.

A traditional love song from south west Scotland, The Corncrake mentions the town of Ayr and the river Doune which flows to the sea just south of the town. The sound of the corncrake (a harsh rasping call which might not be thought particularly romantic) has now become rare in mainland Scotland with the loss of meadow habitat. The song is known throughout Scotland and is in the Greig-Duncan Folk-Song Collection. This is followed by the air of another song, in jig time I Hae a Wife o Ma Ain which was written by Robert Burns and contributed by him to Johnson's Scots Musical Museum in 1792.

1: Oh the lass that I loed best of all was handsome young and fair,
Wi her I spent some merry nights upon the banks o Ayr;
Wi her I spent some merry nights by yon wee burnie rows,
Whaur the echo mocks the corncrakes amang the whinny knowes.
 
2: Oh we loed each other dearly and disputes we seldom had,
As constant as the pendulum her heart beats always glad;
We sought for joy and found it by yon wee burnie rows,
Whaur the echo mocks the corncrakes amang the whinny knowes.
 
3: Ah ye maidens fair and pleasure dames drive tae the banks o Doune,
An ye'll dearly pay for every scent tae the barber for perfume;
But rural joy is free tae aa whaur scented clover grows,
Whaur the echo mocks the corncrakes amang the whinny knowes.
 
4: Oh the lass that I loed best of all was handsome young and fair,
Wi her I spent some merry nights upon the banks o Ayr;
Wi her I spent some merry nights by yon wee burnie rows,
Whaur the echo mocks the corncrakes amang the whinny knows.

This song is from the Springthyme CD Ossian: <a href="http://www.springthyme.co.uk/1004/" target="_parent">OSSIAN</a>.

The Corncrake/ I Have a Wife o ma Ain

Springthyme is a record label dedicated to presenting Scotland's living tradition in song and music. Founded in 1974 by musician and singer Pete Shepheard, the label has introduced many fine singers, musicians to the world of recorded music. The very first album was recorded during the weekend traditional music festival held in Kinross in 1973 with musicians including Aly Bain and Tom Anderson and the Shetland Fiddlers and the first recording of ballad singer Stanley Robertson of Aberdeen. Other artistes on Springthyme include Jim Reid, The Foundry Bar Band, Ossian, Jock Duncan, Bill Black, Duncan Williamson, Lizzie Higgins, Jim Crawford, Tom Hughes, John Watt & Davey Stewart, Iain McLachlan and many more including a CD from Pete's own band Shepheard, Spiers & Watson. Springthyme has also issued recordings from their field recordings archive in cooperation with the Musical Traditions label.