Songs and lyrics of Robert Burns

Chapter 18: KENMURE’S ON AND AWA

Open in WeRead

Explore more books like this:

About This Book

A collected selection of the poet's songs and shorter lyrics presents his explorations of love, nature, rural Scottish life, patriotism, and social observation, often rendered in Scots dialect and intended for musical performance. The volume groups brief pieces alongside several longer poems, supplies a glossary of dialect terms and an index of first lines, and includes illustrative plates. Many lyrics evoke landscapes, domestic scenes, and communal gatherings, balancing tenderness and satire while varying tone from celebratory to elegiac. The arrangement favors lyrical vitality rather than strict chronology, offering readers both popular airs and more extended narrative poems within a single accessible anthology.

KENMURE’S ON AND AWA

O Kenmure’s on and awa, Willie!

O Kenmure’s on and awa!

And Kenmure’s lord’s the bravest lord

That ever Galloway saw.

Success to Kenmure’s band, Willie!

Success to Kenmure’s band;

There’s no a heart that fears a Whig

That rides by Kenmure’s hand.

Here’s Kenmure’s health in wine, Willie!

Here’s Kenmure’s health in wine;

There ne’er was a coward o’ Kenmure’s blude,

Nor yet o’ Gordon’s line.

O Kenmure’s lads are men, Willie!

O Kenmure’s lads are men;

Their hearts and swords are metal true—

And that their faes shall ken.

They’ll live or die wi’ fame, Willie!

They’ll live or die wi’ fame;

But soon, wi’ sounding victorie,

May Kenmure’s lord come hame!

Here’s him that’s far awa, Willie!

Here’s him that’s far awa;

And here’s the flower that I love best—

The rose that’s like the snaw!