Carolina Oliphant

(1766-1845 / Scotland)

Biography of Carolina Oliphant

Carolina Oliphant, Baroness Nairne (August 16, 1766–October 26, 1845) was a Scottish songwriter and song collector.

Following the example set by Robert Burns in the Scots Musical Museum, Lady Nairne undertook to bring out a collection of national airs set to appropriate words. To the collection she contributed a large number of original songs, adopting the signature BB - Mrs Bogan of Bogan. The music was edited by RA Smith, and the collection was published at Edinburgh under the name of the Scottish Minstrel (1821-1824).

Her songs may be classed under three heads:

1. those illustrative of the characters and manners of the old Scottish gentry, such as "The Laird o' Cockpen," "The Fife Laird," and "John Tod"

2. Jacobite songs, composed for the most part to gratify her kinsman Robertson, the aged chief of Strowan, among the best known of which are perhaps "Wha'll be King but Charlie?" "Charlie is my darling," "The Hundred Pipers," "He's owre the Hills," and "Will ye no' come back again?"

3. songs not included under the above heads, ranging over a variety of subjects from "Caller Herrin" to the "Land o' the Leal." Updates

A Heavenly Muse

Air - 'Miss Carmichael.'

A Heavenly muse in green Erin is singing,
His strains, all seraphic, ascend to the skies;
Fair blossoms of Eden, around him all springing,
The soft balmy ether perfume as they rise.
Sweet poet! be true to thy lofty aspiring,
While, bound by thy magic, the sky's half unfurl'd;

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