Rabbie Burns

At the age of seven, Robert Burns (or "Burness," as his surname was at that time) moved with his family from the small cottage in which he had been born to a large farm further south. The young Rabbie was soon put hard to work in the fields as a labourer and the hardship he endured in those formative years was to have a permanent effect on his health. His education was sporadic - much of it courtesy of his father - but perhaps surprisingly comprehensive when one takes in to account the time period and family circumstances. He received tuition in the basics that are reading, writing and arithmetic, but also in subjects such as French, Latin and geography. At the age of fifteen, he was inspired by a fellow farm worker - Nelly Kilpatrick - to pen his first poem, "O, Once I Lov'd a Bonnie Lass."

It depends on the perception of the individual as to whether Burns is best remembered as a poet or a lyricist - or even as something different entirely. I personally, however, will always associate him first and foremost with poetry.

The poems by Burns are of course far too numerous to even list here never mind recite in their entirety but I will include some links below for those who would like to read and find out more.

"When chapman billies leave the street,
And drouthy neibors neibors meet,
As market-days as wearing late,
An' folk begin to tak the gate;
While we sit bousing at the nappy,
An' getting fou and unco happy,
We think na on the lang Scots miles,
The mosses, waters, slaps and styles,
That lie between us and our hame,
Where sits our sulky sullen dame,
Gathering her brows like gathering storm,
Nursing her wrath to keep it warm."

So begins the first Burns poem I ever read and the one which is probably his most famous. For a complete transcript of this poem (and a translation!) click on the link below:

Alexandria Burns Club

I have to begin this section by making what is perhaps shameful admission number two: yes, this Scotsman who never ate haggis in thirty years, in all his travels throughout this land has never visited Loch Ness! It's true, I'm afraid - therefore I am unable to comment on "Nessie's" present state of health or whereabouts.

With regard to the second mystery, however, there is an extremely disconcerting rumour sweeping Scotland at the moment that during a recent and particularly cold afternoon "haggis shoot," Auld Dougal slipped in the snow and ice and revealed to the world the most inappropriate of garments, which you will see pictured to the left! Surely it can't be true...can it? Imagine the shame it would bring upon his family for generations to come!

Already - the world of commerce being what it is - replicas of Dougal's "alleged" folly are being offered for sale online. Click here to see for yourself!

On 14th October, 1788, an experiment took place at Dalswinton Loch, near Dumfries. A small boat, fitted with an engine designed by William Symington, became what was effectively the world's first paddle propelled steamboat. It is widely reported that Rabbie Burns was on board that day.

Just as a list of his poetry would fill this entire page, so too would a list of his songs. "Prolific" does not even begin to describe Rabbie Burns' literary accomplishments. I hope you enjoy this tiny sample of his work.

To play the videos, first click on the large arrow in the centre of the screen, followed by the small one to the bottom left.

As one would expect, judging from the type of poems and song lyrics he largely penned, Rabbie Burns definitely had more than an eye for the "lassies." It is therefore impossible to examine his life to any extent whatsoever without touching upon this aspect of it.

Rabbie Burns was eventually married in 1788 to Jean Armour, who bore him a total of nine children. Their relationship was complex to say the least and far too intricate to examine here, but for those who do wish to know more about this aspect of Burns' life, click here for an excellent, comprehensive account of the ins and outs of their lives together.

The other women in Burns' life were numerous and varied but some of the most significant included Alison Begbie, for whom he reputedly wrote four songs. It appears, however, that his feelings were not reciprocated and this was probably his first taste of rejection.

Elizabeth Paton was a maidservant of his mother's and was the woman who bore him his first child in 1786.

He was subsequently scheduled (allegedly) to emigrate to Jamaica with Mary Campbell, but before any definite plans could be put into place, Mary tragically contracted a fever and died. She was 23 years old.

The personal relationships of Rabbie Burns were often frowned upon by the Kirk (Church of Scotland) but if one considers the time period, his associations with Agnes McLehose must have attracted particular disapproval. Agnes (Nancy as she was often known) was estranged from her husband, who had left for Jamaica, but she eventually set sail to rejoin him with an original copy of "Ae Fond Kiss" as a parting gift from Burns.

It may not be one of the more widely publicised or renowned aspects of his existence but the reality is that Burns was very active in Freemasonry and it played a significant part in his adult life. He was initiated in 1781 at the age of 22 into the Lodge St David Tarbolton and only three years later became "Depute Master" of Lodge St James Tarbolton. Burns was extremely popular and well respected within the lodge and scarcely failed to attend a meeting.

Freemasonry actually played a big part in popularising Burns as a poet and spreading the word regarding his works. In 1787, at Lodge St Andrew in Edinburgh, he was received into the Edinburgh Lodges and actually toasted by the "Grand Master" of the Grand Lodge of Scotland. He was later to be granted honorary membership of a great many lodges throughout the north and south of Scotland and remained active in the movement for the rest of his life.

Rabbie Burns suffered from a heart condition and long standing problems with his health. Perhaps it was the rigours of life as a farmhand in his early years that contributed to his death at the age of only 37 on 21st July, 1796; perhaps it was the rheumatic fever from which he had suffered - no one will ever know for sure. The rumours that abounded at the time and have resulted in much speculation since were and are numerous but are not for repeating here.

He is buried in St Michael's Churchyard in the town of Dumfries in Galloway, which had been his home during his latter years.

It is a song that is sung regularly around Planet Earth, particularly at the time when we welcome in each New Year - but how many people know that most of it was written by Rabbie Burns? How many know more than a few of the words? How many of those who do know them know what they actually mean?

I was going to video myself singing the song and include it here courtesy of YouTube(!!!)... but then I decided to spare you the experience of passing through that particular pain barrier and decided simply to include the words (and their rough translation) in text form instead:

"Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
(Should old friends be forgotten,)
And never brought to mind?
(And never be remembered?)
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
(Should old friends be forgotten,)
And auld lang syne?
(And times and days gone by?)

Chorus
For auld lang syne, my dear,
(For times now in the past, my dear,)
For auld lang syne,
(For times now in the past,)
We'll tak a cup of kindness yet,
(We'll drink a toast of remembrance,)
For auld lang syne!
(For times now in the past!)

And surely you'll be your pint-stowp,
(And you'll pay for your pint tankard,)
And surely I'll be mine,
(And I'll pay for mine,)
And we'll tak a cup o kindness yet,
(And we'll drink a toast of remembrance,)
For auld lang syne!
(For times now in the past!)

We twa hae run about the braes,
(The two of us have run about the hillsides,)
And pou'd the gowans fine,
(And pulled the wild flowers,)
But we've wander'd monie a weary fit,
(But now we've travelled a far distance apart,)
Sin auld lang syne!
(Since those times now in the past!)

We twa hae paidl'd in the burn,
(The two of us have paddled in the stream,)
Frae morning sun till dine,
(From early morning until midday,)
But seas between us braid hae roar'd,
(But broad seas now lie between us,)
Sin auld lang syne!
(Since those times now in the past!)

And there's a hand my trusty fiere,
(So take my hand my trusted friend,)
And gie's a hand o thine,
(And give me your hand,)
And we'll tak a right guid-willie waught,
(And we'll take a right good drink together,)
For auld lang syne!
(For times now in the past!)"