365 Songs – Ae Fond Kiss – Robert Burns
On this, our national poet’s day, I’ve decided to play my favourite Burns song, Ae Fond Kiss. When Burns settled down to married life with Jean Armour, he still had a strong affection for the woman he called Clarinda, Agnes M’Lehose. As she was about to set sail for Jamaica, Burns sent her this song. Sir Walter Scott thought that this song contained the ‘essence of a thousand love tales’.
Musically it’s a very simple song. In the Scottish tradition it sticks to the pentatonic scale (you could play it only on the black notes on the piano) and I’ve done my own interpretation of it – I hope you like it.
If you’re in the mood to sing along today, here are the words:
Ae fond kiss, and then we sever;
Ae fareweel, alas, for ever!
Deep in heart-wrung tears I’ll pledge thee,
Warring sighs and groans I’ll wage thee.
Who shall say that Fortune grieves him,
While the star of hope she leaves him?
Me, nae cheerful twinkle lights me;
Dark despair around benights me.
I’ll ne’er blame my partial fancy,
Naething could resist my Nancy:
But to see her was to love her;
Love but her, and love for ever.
Had we never lov’d sae kindly,
Had we never lov’d sae blindly,
Never met-or never parted,
We had ne’er been broken-hearted.
Fare-thee-weel, thou first and fairest!
Fare-thee-weel, thou best and dearest!
Thine be ilka joy and treasure,
Peace, Enjoyment, Love and Pleasure!
Ae fond kiss, and then we sever!
Ae fareweel alas, for ever!
Deep in heart-wrung tears I’ll pledge thee,
Warring sighs and groans I’ll wage thee.
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Beautiful. Just beautiful. (And what romantic words ..)
Another one of my favourite songs, beautifully played! I’m singing it at our belated Burns Supper on Friday. Will you come and accompany me,Mark, por favor??????
Would love to, Jenny. Can you send the private jet?
Listened to it once. Then grabbed the headphones and listened again, knowing I had missed out on some of the nuances the first time. Wow. Loved it. I am enjoying your subtle playing style.
Are you recording these on your RD700GX? (Just got one for my son this week (he’s the one with the talent)). May I propose an experiment? Can you post the midi file of these performances? I would simply LOVE to hear this played as YOU heard it as it was BEING played.