Introduction to the song ‘My Dear and Only Love‘

The newest member of the 1st Marquis of Montrose Society is Donna ‘Dee McPherson’ Rucks, a singer and musician from Chicago. Challenged by the society’s secretary, Shelagh Macpherson Noble, to set the 1st Marquis’ poem, ‘My Dear and Only Love’ to music, Donna set about the task. After composing the piano part, she then took it to Kraig McCreary’s studio in Chicago to record the vocals and the 17th century instrumentation. She presented the results to the membership at the Annual General Meeting on 17th May 2025.

The 1st Marquis wrote the poem in 1643, and it has been referred to by some as “To a Mistress”. Donna has captured the feeling of the dark and threatening undertones of the First Marquis’ political message, yet has cleverly woven a playful lightness into the romantic parts. Just who is the Mistress? Is it Scotland? Is it a woman? Perhaps it is both.