Wilt thou be my Dearie

One of three poems together. Begins "Canst thou leave me thus, my Katy". Written during the night of 19-20 November 1794. It is thought that it was written as a compliment to the wife of George Thomson, although in one version, "Katie" was substituted by "Betty", possibly in honour of Elizabeth Riddell. "Song - An English one, to the tune of Roy's wife" 2 four-line verses, with chorus. One of three poems together. Begins: "Husband, husband, cease your strife". Suggested by MacKay as being "an Anglicisation of the traditional ballad 'My Jo Janet'. sent to Thomson in December 1793". 4 eight-line verses.

This manuscript contains the song Wilt thou be my Dearie. The song was first published in the Morning Chronicle on 10 May 1794 but it was written at an earlier date. Burns had sent an earlier version to his friend Alexander Cunningham in March of that same year.

The Jeanie of the song is unknown, although it has been speculated that it was based on Janet Miller, the daughter of Burns's friend Patrick Miller.