Songs and lyrics of Robert Burns

Name: Songs and lyrics of Robert Burns
Author: Burns, Robert

Burns, Robert

Scottish poetry -- 18th century

‘Then never murmur nor repine;
      Strive in thy humble sphere to shine;
      And trust me, not Potosi’s mine,
                  Nor king’s regard,
      Can give a bliss o’ermatching thine,
                  A rustic Bard.

      ‘To give my counsels all in one,
      Thy tuneful flame still careful fan;
      Preserve the dignity of Man,
                  With Soul erect;
      And trust the Universal Plan
                  Will all protect.

      ‘And wear thou this’: She solemn said,
      And bound the holly round my head:
      The polish’d leaves and berries red
                  Did rustling play;
      And, like a passing thought, she fled
                  In light away.

Glossary

  =Abeigh=, aloof, at bay.

  =Aboon=, above.

  =Acquent=, acquainted.

  =Ae=, one; only.

  =Aff-loof=, offhand.

  =A-gley=, askew.

  =Aiblins=, perhaps, possibly.

  =Airt=, region, direction; to direct.

  =Airted=, directed.

  =Aizle=, ash (of fuel); a cinder.

  =Ajee=, ajar.

  =An=, if.

  =Asklent=, askance.

  =Ava=, at all; of all.

  =Awnie=, bearded (barley).

  =Ayont=, beyond.

  =Babie-clouts=, baby-clothes.

  =Bairntime=, a mother’s whole brood or issue.

  =Bade=, endured, could stand.

  =Bannock=, a soft flat cake.

  =Barley-bree=, barley-brew = ale or whisky.

  =Baudrons=, the cat.

  =Bawsent=, white streaked.

  =Beets=, adds fuel to, incites.

  =Bell=, flower, blossom;
    =sin’ lint was i’ the bell=, since flax was in blossom.

  =Belyve=, by and by, presently.

  =Ben=, the spence or parlour; in, into, the inner room.

  =Beuk=, a book.

  =Bicker=, a wooden cup; a draught.

  =Bickering=, hurrying.

  =Biel=, =bield=, a shelter.

  =Bien=, comfortable.

  =Big=, to build.

  =Biggin=, a building.

  =Bill=, a bull.

  =Billie=, brother; comrade.

  =Bings=, heaps.

  =Birk=, a birch (tree).

  =Birkie=, chap, fellow (carries a suggestion of strut, conceit
    or cockiness).

  =Birken-shaw=, a wood of birches.

  =Bizz=, to buzz.

  =Blate=, bashful, shy.

  =Blaud=, a slapping lot.

  =Blellum=, a gassy fool.

  =Blethers=, nonsense.

  =Blink=, to glance brightly; a glance; a moment.

  =Blinkers=, spies.

  =Bluntie=, stupid, like a fool.

  =Bocked=, vomited.

  =Boddle=, a small coin, about = ½d.

  =Bogle=, a ghost.

  =Boortrees=, elder-bushes.

  =Bore=, a hole or gap.

  =Boot=, more than they bargained for.

  =Bouk=, a bulk, body.

  =Braing’t=, pulled with a jerk.

  =Brak’s=, broke his.

  =Branks=, a wooden curb, a bridle.

  =Brats=, clothes; aprons.

  =Brattle=, a spurt, sprint, scamper.

  =Braw=, handsome; gaily dressed.

  =Braxies=, sheep that have died of braxy.

  =Briestit=, sprang forward.

  =Brechan=, a horse-collar.

  =Brent=, smooth, upright.

  =Brent-new=, brand-new.

  =Brock=, a badger.

  =Brogue=, a trick.

  =Broo=, brew, liquid, water.

  =Broozes=, wedding-races home from church.

  =Brugh=, a borough.

  =Brulzie=, a brawl or brangle.

  =Brunstane=, brimstone.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

Songs and lyrics of Robert BurnsBurns, Robert

General

Songs and lyrics of Robert Burns

Burns, Robert

Scottish poetry -- 18th century

‘Then never murmur nor repine;
      Strive in thy humble sphere to shine;
      And trust me, not Potosi’s mine,
                  Nor king’s regard,
      Can give a bliss o’ermatching thine,
                  A rustic Bard.

      ‘To give my counsels all in one,
      Thy tuneful flame still careful fan;
      Preserve the dignity of Man,
                  With Soul erect;
      And trust the Universal Plan
                  Will all protect.

      ‘And wear thou this’: She solemn said,
      And bound the holly round my head:
      The polish’d leaves and berries red
                  Did rustling play;
      And, like a passing thought, she fled
                  In light away.

Glossary

  =Abeigh=, aloof, at bay.

  =Aboon=, above.

  =Acquent=, acquainted.

  =Ae=, one; only.

  =Aff-loof=, offhand.

  =A-gley=, askew.

  =Aiblins=, perhaps, possibly.

  =Airt=, region, direction; to direct.

  =Airted=, directed.

  =Aizle=, ash (of fuel); a cinder.

  =Ajee=, ajar.

  =An=, if.

  =Asklent=, askance.

  =Ava=, at all; of all.

  =Awnie=, bearded (barley).

  =Ayont=, beyond.

  =Babie-clouts=, baby-clothes.

  =Bairntime=, a mother’s whole brood or issue.

  =Bade=, endured, could stand.

  =Bannock=, a soft flat cake.

  =Barley-bree=, barley-brew = ale or whisky.

  =Baudrons=, the cat.

  =Bawsent=, white streaked.

  =Beets=, adds fuel to, incites.

  =Bell=, flower, blossom;
    =sin’ lint was i’ the bell=, since flax was in blossom.

  =Belyve=, by and by, presently.

  =Ben=, the spence or parlour; in, into, the inner room.

  =Beuk=, a book.

  =Bicker=, a wooden cup; a draught.

  =Bickering=, hurrying.

  =Biel=, =bield=, a shelter.

  =Bien=, comfortable.

  =Big=, to build.

  =Biggin=, a building.

  =Bill=, a bull.

  =Billie=, brother; comrade.

  =Bings=, heaps.

  =Birk=, a birch (tree).

  =Birkie=, chap, fellow (carries a suggestion of strut, conceit
    or cockiness).

  =Birken-shaw=, a wood of birches.

  =Bizz=, to buzz.

  =Blate=, bashful, shy.

  =Blaud=, a slapping lot.

  =Blellum=, a gassy fool.

  =Blethers=, nonsense.

  =Blink=, to glance brightly; a glance; a moment.

  =Blinkers=, spies.

  =Bluntie=, stupid, like a fool.

  =Bocked=, vomited.

  =Boddle=, a small coin, about = ½d.

  =Bogle=, a ghost.

  =Boortrees=, elder-bushes.

  =Bore=, a hole or gap.

  =Boot=, more than they bargained for.

  =Bouk=, a bulk, body.

  =Braing’t=, pulled with a jerk.

  =Brak’s=, broke his.

  =Branks=, a wooden curb, a bridle.

  =Brats=, clothes; aprons.

  =Brattle=, a spurt, sprint, scamper.

  =Braw=, handsome; gaily dressed.

  =Braxies=, sheep that have died of braxy.

  =Briestit=, sprang forward.

  =Brechan=, a horse-collar.

  =Brent=, smooth, upright.

  =Brent-new=, brand-new.

  =Brock=, a badger.

  =Brogue=, a trick.

  =Broo=, brew, liquid, water.

  =Broozes=, wedding-races home from church.

  =Brugh=, a borough.

  =Brulzie=, a brawl or brangle.

  =Brunstane=, brimstone.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Songs and lyrics of Robert Burns

Songs and lyrics of Robert Burns

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