The Words of Burns

Click here to listen: https://soundcloud.com/words-of-burns/deluded-swain-the-pleasure

Robert Burns was an avid searcher of old Scottish country songs, many of which he greatly improved for publication. He sent the following to George Thomson, the music collector, in 17...

Click here to listen: https://soundcloud.com/words-of-burns/epitaph-on-my-own-friend

William Muir, the owner of Tarbolton mill, was a long-standing friend of the Burness family. He and his wife took in Jean Armour when her parents banished her following discovery of her...

Click here to listen: https://soundcloud.com/words-of-burns/young-peggy 

In 1785, Robert Burns, one night dining at the home of his friend Gavin Hamilton, met a young relation of Hamilton’s called Margaret Kennedy. He composed this poem/song after being greatly impresse...

Click here to listen: https://soundcloud.com/words-of-burns/bonie-wee-thing

Written by Robert Burns in praise of a noted beauty of petite appearance, Deborah Duff Davies. He sent this to her in 1793.

Bonie wee thing, cannie wee thing, Lovely wee thing, wert thou mine,

I w...