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Rabbie Burns
is Scotland's national poet. World famous as the writer of Auld
Lang Syne. Burns had an affinity for words, women, wine and the haggis! This
page in our web site is dedicated to the Bard, his poems, songs, and his life.
We plan to make available a download every month of one of his favorite
works, (which we
will regularly update), as well as providing you with links to Burns related web sites
, information about Burns events, and general Burns
memorabilia. This month we have two of Burn's most famous writings. The poem "
Holy Willies Prayer" revealing in light hearted but equally ruthless
manner, the hypocrisies of religious belief in his day. This is tempered later by
the song " Corn Fields are Bonie" a treasured testament to the joy of
love.
Perhaps you have a lesser known but equally poignant favorite
song or Poem of Burn's of your own. Please enter your own comments or favorite
Burns material or anecdotes through our feedback page which we will be happy to
publish in future updates.
[ The graphic
on the left depicts the opening and closing
stanza of Burns' "Address to a Haggis". First printed in the
Caledonian Mercury 19th December 1786 – a few short months before
the earliest published recipe for Haggis appeared in "Cookery and
Pastry" by Susanna MacIver. Click on the graphic for closer detail. ]
Latest News -
"IN SEARCH OF ROBERT BURNS" from Scotfilms
"In Search of
Robert Burns" - the latest film production from Scotfilms
takes the viewer on a journey round Scotland in search of the real Burns.
Narrated by the celebrated Scottish actor, James Cosmo, the
story of Robert Burns is brought to life in the settings that inspired his
greatest work. This film is now available in VHS and DVD format. For more
information click on the Graphic above.
Burns goes to Hollywood !!
As if we haven't waited
long enough already. Scotland's best known screenwriter
Alan Sharp has signed up to script the much talked
about film about the love life of Robert Burns and
it looks sure to be a huge success beyond the realms of Alan's previous
blockbuster Rob Roy. We will keep you updated as we
hear more news. Since plans for the filming of this Burns story were first
revealed, there has been a flood of suggestions about which actor might play the
bard. These have ranged from Ewan McGregor to Johnny Depp. Our money's on
Trainspotting's Robert Carlyle - watch this space. STOP
PRESS....Looks like we all
lost our bet - looks like it's Hollywood's Robert Downey Jnr.
( or should that be Rabbie Downey!!)
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1. Burns
National Heritage Park:
Now fully restored to its original state, Burns
Cottage forms the heart of Burns National Heritage Park - a unique
encounter with Scotland's most exceptional man. Set among the delightful
scenery of historic Alloway, Burns National Heritage Park is an unmatched
opportunity to experience Scotland's National Poet. This website provides
all the information and more besides. |
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2. Robertburnsresearch.com : The domain name speaks for itself -
Burns' expert Patrick Scott Hogg - the man who recently unearthed the "lost
poems" gives his own deep insight into the works of Burns. |
| 3. Burns' Entertainers -
"The
starting point for Scotland's most exciting and original entertainment
company in the work of Robert Burns". |
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4. Burns Country:
The “official” Robert Burns site
Burns Encyclopedia, Burns works, Burns clubs, Burns Cottage, Burns
Federation, Burns gifts, and other leading Robert Burns sites, plus links
galore... |
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5. Robert Burns
Tribute - Burns Supper, Haggis, Poems, Robert Burns Contests and more
"This Robert Burns tribute site gives you the complete guide to Robert
Burns the man, his poems, haggis . . . ." |
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6.Burns
Country: Another “official” Robert Burns site Burns
Encyclopedia, Burns works, Burns clubs, Burns Cottage, Burns Federation,
Burns gifts, and other leading Robert Burns sites, plus links
galore... |
| 7. Burns Books
- Broadcaster, singer, author and tutor Maureen Bell provides an
opportunity to purchase her books on Robert Burns ~ from the lassies'
perspective!! |
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8.
Burns Pages - a Celebration
Robert Burns, Scottish National Poet, Background and life with many examples
of his works, some with Real Audio
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9.
Robert Burns Family History
... Robert Burns Family History Robert Burns was... ...many unrelated
families named Burns. Robert Burns had a...
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10.
Rabbies' Dram
-
"Rabbie's Dram" is a specialist whisky company based in the heart
of Ayrshire "Robert Burns Country" specialising in the finest
quality Scotch Whisky ranging from 5cl miniatures to Limited Edition Premier
Box Sets. |
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Last year ( early 2001 ) Burns expert Patrick Scott Hogg
uncovered anonymously written 'lost' poems which were highly political at the
time and could have seen Burns hanged for treason. Although not recognised as
being amongst his best works, these poems have been authenticated by Professor
Roderick Watson, Director of the Centre for Scottish Studies at the University
of Stirling who commented at the time "...there is good evidence to
suggest that these are the works of Burns. I think it will cause a bit of a
stir.
Sincere thanks to Patrick Scott Hogg for
emailing The Scottish Haggis Website as follows:
..............................................................................................................................................................................
Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2002 6:10 PM
Subject: Hello and comments on the
lost poems article
�It is pleasing to read your inclusion of the poems I
unearthed a while back. Would you like to clarify a couple of points in the
notes?
The Ode to Hibernia's
Sons is actually an early variant edition of the well known Burns poem
"Ode to General Washington on his Birthday"; the manuscripts for both
were sold at auction in May 1861 by Puttock & Simpson in London, so the
earlier Ode, now in the Canongate Burns, is genuine Burns - no debate. The same
is true for Humanity: An Ode which was printed
in The Gentleman's Magazine in 1795 by Burns himself: it is an update of the
earlier poem "A Winter Night", printed in the Edinburgh edition of
1787. The main difference is that "Humanity: An Ode" is changed a fair
bit - improved according to Professor David Daiches with a better ending ........
......Best wishes and I appreciate you doing good work in
the name of our great national bard!�
Cheers Patrick
S Hogg
Click here to find
Burns' "lost poems" Ode to
Hibernia's Sons and Humanity: An Ode
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Ode (For Hibernia's Sons)
No Spartan Tube, no attic shell,
No lyre Aeolian I awake,
'Tis Liberty's bold note I swell:
Thy Harp, Hibernia, let me take!
See gathering thousands while I sing,
A broken chain, exulting, bring
And dash it in a tyrant's face,
And dare him to his very beard,
And tell him he is no more fear'd,
No more the despot of Hibernia's race!
A tyrant's proudest insults brav'd,
Ye shout a People freed! They hail a nation sav'd!
Where is Man's godlike form!
Where is that brow erect and bold,
That eye that can, unmoved, behold,
The wildest rage, the loudest storm,
That e'er created fury dared to raise!
Avaunt! thou caitiff, servile base,
That tremblest at a Despot's nod,
Yet, crouching under th' iron rod,
Canst laud the arm that strick th' insulting blow!
Art thou of man's imperial line?
Doest boast that countenance divine?
Each skulking feature answers, No!
But come, ye sons of Liberty,
Hibernia's offspring, brave as free,
In danger's hour still flaming in the van:
Ye know, and dare maintain, The Royalty of Man.
Humanity: An Ode.
Blow, blow, ye winds! with heavier gust!
And freeze, thou bitter-biting frost!
Descend, ye chilly, smothering snows!
Not all your rage, united, shews
More hard unkindness, unrelenting,
Vengeful malice, unrepenting,
Than heav'n-illumin'd Man on brother Man bestows! ?
See stern Oppressions iron lip,
See mad Ambition's gory hand,
Sending like blood-hounds from the slip,
Woe, Want and Murder, o'er a land!
Even in the peaceful, rural vale,
Truth, weeping, tells the mournful tale,
How Luxury, with Flattery by her side,
The parasite, empoisoning her ear,
With all the servile wretches in the rear,
Looks o'er proud Property extended wide;
And eyes the simple, lowly hind,
Whose toil upholds the glittering show,
A creature of another kind,
Some coarser substance, unrefin'd,
Plac'd for her Lordly use thus vile below!
Where, where, is Love's fond, tender throe,
With lordly Honour's lofty brow,
The powers you proudly own?
Is there, beneath Love's noble name,
Can harbour, dark, the selfish aim,
To bless himself alone? ?
Mark Maiden-Innocence, a prey
To love-pretending snares:
This boasted honour turns away,
Shunning soft Pity's rising sway,
Regardless all of tears, and unavailing prayers.
Perhaps this hour, in misery's squalid nest,
She strains your infant to her joyless breast,
And with a mother's fears shrinks at the rocking blast!
O ye! who sunk in beds of down, (1)
Feel not a want but what yourselves create,
Think, for a moment, on his hapless fate,
Whom friends and fortune quite disown!
Ill-satisfy'd keen Hunger's clamorous call,
Stretched on his straw he lays himself to sleep,
While through the ragged roof, and chinky wall,
Chill, o'er his slumbers, falls the drifty heap!
Think on the dungeon's grim confine,
Think on the terrors of the mine,
Where Guilt and poor Misfortune pine!
Guilt, erring Man, relenting view!
Nor let thy legal rage pursue
The wretch, already beaten low
By dire Misfortune's undeserved blow!
Afflictions sons are brothers in distress;
A brother then relieve, and God the deed shall bless.
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In Holy Willie’s Prayer ,
Burns attacks the small minded, Calvinist tradition which was very much a part
of Scottish society of that time. The ‘Argument’ which precedes the poem
proper tells the reader more of the story concerning Holy Willie, that Willie
was a ‘rather oldish bachelor’ in Mauchline who had been second best in a
case against Gavin Hamilton, a local man. The poem represents Willie’s private
prayer against Hamilton and everyone else (except himself of course) who
indulges in activities of which Willie disapproves.
The first 3 verses set the scene of the Calvinist view Willie has of the
world. ‘ Sends ane to heaven and ten to h-ll’, was a belief held amongst
extreme Calvinists like Willie that heavenly salvation was pre-ordained and that
only the chosen, like Willie obviously, were to be selected for heaven. Verses 2
and 3 in particular show Willie’s overwhelming egotism where he describes
himself as a ‘’burning and a shining light’, amongst other things. Willie
is the ‘chosen sample’ in verse 5, a ‘pillar ‘ and a ‘rock’.
Verses 6 and 7 show a ludicrous contrast between the sinners of verse 6, ‘
drinkers drink’, and swearer’s swear’, who Willie is strongly opposed to,
and his own behaviour represented in verse 7 where he admits himself that he is
bothered with fleshly lust. Verses 8 and 9 continue this theme with Willie’s
realistic admissions of his own behaviour with Meg and Leezie’s lass a
ridiculous condemnation of his public criticisms of other people.
Willie makes sure he gets in a request to his god for Gavin Hamilton to get
his ‘deserts; but admits in verse 13 that his own attempts to injure Hamilton
caused ‘sic a splore’, such an uproar, that the world ended up laughing at
Willie. The last 4 verses contrast , in verses 14 and 15, a snivelling, small
minded whining from Willie against Hamilton and his lawyer Aiken, with verses 16
and 17 where the tone changes to a booming, mighty request for the destruction
of Willie’s enemies. The poem ends with Willie’s hypocrisy and self centeredness
complete with Willie asking to be ‘Excell’d by nane!’
Holy Willie’s Prayer is one of Burns’ most famous poems and one that
creates in the person of Willie one of the most famous characters evoked by
poetry anywhere.
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This is one of the poet’s earliest songs and one of the most famous
of songs on love and physical attraction. With Corn Rigs, as with very many of
his songs, Burns drew upon a wealth of existing melodies and material from his
native Ayrshire and beyond.
Corn Rigs has been released as a song by several
artists in the past and is one of the poet’s greatest memorials to love.
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