It isnae me explained

"It isnae me" is a poem by Sally Holmes which was set to music by the English composer Edward Elgar in 1930.^[1]

The poem was first printed in Country Life magazine, and the song published in 1931 by Keith Prowse & Co. Ltd, London.

It was written at Elgar's home, "Marl Bank", near Worcester, and was dedicated to the soprano Joan Elwes,^[2] whom he had admired at Three Choirs Festival. The poem was performed by her in October 1930 at a concert in Dumfries, Scotland.

The poem is in the Scots language.

Lyrics

Scots: It isnae me that's keerin'—or no' an awfu' lot, But—it's sair, whiles, mindin' things ye thocht ye had forgot. An' when wee Tam the Fiddler played 'The Lea Rig'<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://robertburnsfederation.co.uk/poems/translations/497.htm|title='The Lea-Rig' by Robert Burns|access-date=2008-07-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110826071404/http://robertburnsfederation.co.uk/poems/translations/497.htm|archive-date=2011-08-26|url-status=dead

Scots translations

• Scots: keerin' = grieving, complaining
• Scots: sair = sad
• Scots: whiles = meanwhile
• Scots: mindin' = remembering
• Scots: wee = little, young
• Scots: lea rig = meadow-ridge
• Scots: gie'd masel' = gave myself
• Scots: greet = cry
• Scots: awa' = ago
• Scots: dinnae ken = don't know

Recordings

• "The Unknown Elgar" includes "Scots: It isnae me|italic=no" performed by Teresa Cahill (soprano), with Barry Collett (piano).
• Songs and Piano Music by Edward Elgar has "Scots: It isnae me|italic=no" performed by Mark Wilde (tenor), with David Owen Norris (piano).

Notes and References

1. Book: Kennedy, Michael. Michael Kennedy (music critic). Portrait of Elgar. Oxford University Press. 1968. 0-19-315414-5.
2. Web site: Photograph of Joan Elwes. York Symphony Orchestra People.