A Tribute to Rabbie Burns, in Music

A joyful Rabbie Burns’ Day from this Scotsman to all our Scots and those who deep down, in some wee way, wish they were Scottish, which, taken together, includes just about all o’ ye.

Scotland’s national poet and lyricist was born on this day in 1759, and hence is celebrated as his secular ‘feast’. Of course, it’s also the ecclesial, and proper, feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, but Knox Presbyterians would not recognize that, and hence this day predominated.

Robert Burns did not live a saintly life, nor even much of a morally sound one, or at least one that is to be imitated, but he did produce some of the nation’s finest ballads in his brief 37 years. Perhaps the most known would be his Auld Lang Syne:

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my jo,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll tak’ a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne

Here is a classic version of the song, sung in Scots, with English ‘translation’:

Or, more poignantly, his My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose:

My luve is like a red red rose
That’s newly sprung in june;
O my Luve’s like the melodie
That’s sweetly play’d in tune;

As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in luve am I;
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a’ the seas gang dry;

Here is great Kenneth McKellar with the classic musical version:

For a more modern rendition, here is the incomparable Eva Cassidy, who left this world too young:

And for one that is choral and orchestral, here is Voces8:

There is much more, so delve into Rabbie Burns, perhaps enjoy a wee dram, and tak’ a cup o’ kindness yet!  And a very blessed and grace-filled New Year to one and all. +

Alban go bragh!