The Words of Burns

Click to listen: https://soundcloud.com/words-of-burns/the-twa-dogs Robert Burns had a favourite dog called “Luath” (Gaelic for quick or fast). He wrote this great poem contrasting the lives of the gentry with that of their cottars by creating a discussion between dogs owned by the laird and the ploughman. He immortalised his old canine friend by naming him in the poem. Due to the length, I have recorded only the introduction, the poem continues with the dialogue between the

Click here to listen: https://soundcloud.com/words-of-burns/gude-ale-keeps-the-heart-aboon This is a traditional song collected and edited by Robert Burns. “O gude ale comes and gude ale goes; Gude ale gars me sell my hose, Sell my hose, and pawn my shoon- Gude ale keeps my heart aboon! I had sax owsen in a pleugh, And they drew a' weel eneugh: I sell'd them a' just ane by ane- Gude ale keeps the heart aboon! Gude ale hauds me bare and busy, Gars me moop wi' the servant hizzi

Click here to listen: https://soundcloud.com/words-of-burns/heres-a-health-to-ane-i-loe-dear This is one of several pieces Robert Burns composed for Jessie Lewars, the girl who helped nurse him in his final illness. "Here's a health to ane I loe dear, Here's a health to ane I loe dear; Thou art sweet as the smile when fond lovers meet, And soft as their parting tear-Jessy. Altho' thou maun never be mine, Altho' even hope is denied; 'Tis sweeter for thee despairing, Than ought

Click here to listen: https://soundcloud.com/words-of-burns/remorse Robert Burns, agreed with the author of ‘The Theory of Moral Sentiments’, Adam Smith, that Remorse is the most painful sentiment that can embitter the human bosom. He wrote the following as a young man in 1784. During the remainder of his life he would have had many occasions on which to reflect on these thoughts within his own circumstances. “Of all the numerous ills that hurt our peace, That press the soul,