GRACE BEFORE AND AFTER MEAT

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It is said that Robert Burns forgot to order a meal for some friends and himself in the Globe Inn in Dumfries. At short notice, the landlady, Meg Hyslop, produced a sheep’s head (intended for her own meal) for the supper. One of the party, William Nicol, then demanded a forfeit of Burns that he should compose a grace for before and after their repast.

“O Lord, when hunger pinches sore, Do thou stand us in stead, And send us, from thy bounteous store, A tup or wether head! O Lord, since we have feasted thus, Which we so little merit, Let Meg now take away the flesh, And Jock bring in the spirit!”

https://soundcloud.com/words-of-burns/grace-before-and-after-meat