The Words of Burns

Click here to listen: https://soundcloud.com/words-of-burns/kirk-and-state-excisemen It is probable that Robert Burns composed this in 1789, after being appointed to the Excise service. The role of Exciseman, collecting duties, was not a popular one but Burns points out that they were not the only ones after your money. “Ye men of wit and wealth, why all this sneering 'Gainst poor Excisemen? Give the cause a hearing: What are your Landlord's rent-rolls? Taxing ledgers! What P

Click here to listen: https://soundcloud.com/words-of-burns/wandering-willie Another old song collected and revised by Robert Burns “Here awa, there awa, wandering Willie, Here awa, there awa, haud awa hame; Come to my bosom, my ain only dearie, Tell me thou bring'st me my Willie the same. Winter winds blew loud and cauld at our parting, Fears for my Willie brought tears in my e'e, Welcome now Simmer, and welcome, my Willie, The Simmer to Nature, my Willie to me! Rest, ye wil

Click here to listen: https://soundcloud.com/words-of-burns/the-keekin-glass A poetic repost from Robert Burns to a judge on the Dumfries bench who referred to an attractive young lady as “Wha’s yon howlet-faced thing in the corner?” In his defence, the judge is said to have had his vision much affected by drink. “How daur ye ca' me howlet-face, Ye blear-e'ed, withered spectre? Ye only spied the keekin'-glass, An' there ye saw your picture.” https://soundcloud.com/words-of-bu

Click here to listen:https://soundcloud.com/words-of-burns/out-over-the-forth This is another song that Robert Burns collected and improved but little is known about it. “Out over the Forth, I look to the North; But what is the north and its Highlands to me? The south nor the east gie ease to my breast, The far foreign land, or the wide rolling sea. But I look to the west when I gae to rest, That happy my dreams and my slumbers may be; For far in the west lives h