Robin Adair


Robin Adair is a traditional Irish song with lyrics written by Lady Caroline Keppel. It was popular in the 18th century. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 8918. The song was mentioned by Jane Austen in her 1815 novel Emma; the character Jane Fairfax played it on the piano.

Background

Robert "Robin" Adair was a real man, born in Dublin around 1714 and passing away in 1790. He was a surgeon-colonel in the British army, and declined a baronetcy. Though her family disapproved of the match because of his lower status, Lady Caroline Keppel married him. In response to her family, she wrote this song in the 1750s. The couple had a son named Robert, who was part of the British diplomatic corps. The melody of the song may have been written by Charles Coffey. "Eileen Aroon," a work by him, features the same melody.

Lyrics

These lyrics were printed in a chapbook of 1823:

Interpretations