I remember my first acquaintance with reading Robert Burns’ poetry, young as I was. The first thing I found out was that unbeknownst to me, I was already acquainted with his works through music because everyone sang Auld Lang Syne every year. I also already knew the song, Coming Through the Rye, and I did like Scottish folk songs, like Loch Lomond (still do, but now I know a lot more). Reading his poetry was a little harder, but I persevered and came to understand and appreciate the dialect. I never heard anyone recite Burns’ poetry till I was older.

I imagine with today’s resources, it must be a lot easier for students to find an audio of any given Burns work. Youtube has a lot.

Here is one of many videos on youtube featuring The Banks O’ Doon. The link goes to the poem page with the first version of the poem, in which there was a time at least, when the false lover was true. Song lyrics below. So sad but so beautiful.

Ye banks and braes o’ bonnie Doon,
How can ye bloom sae fresh and fair;
How can ye chant, ye little birds,
And I sae weary, fu’ o’ care!
Thou’lt break my heart, thou warbling bird,
That wantons thro’ the flowering thorn:
Thou minds me o’ departed joys,
Departed–never to return!

Aft hae I rov’d by bonnie Doon,
To see the rose and woodbine twine;
And ilka bird sang o’ its luve,
And fondly sae did I o’ mine.
Wi’ lightsome heart I pu’d a rose,
Fu’ sweet upon its flowering tree;
But my fause luver stole my rose,
And, ah! he left the thorn wi’ me.

More Resources:
BBC - Burns’ Poetry - Text and Audio
Learning and Teaching Scotland - 5-14 Curriculum
Robert Burns National Heritage Park

Tags: burns, Music, Scotland