Ye Banks and Braes
This song is called "Ye Banks and Braes " and also "The Banks O' Doon". It was written by Robert Burns in 1791. There are three versions of this song all written by Burns. This seems to be the more popular version.
The Doon is a River in Scotland.
Ye Banks and Braes
Ye Banks and Slopes
Traditional Song
Traditional Song
(Scots)
(English)
Ye banks and braes o' bonnie Doon,
How can ye bloom sae fresh and fair?
How can ye chant, ye little birds,
And I sae weary, fu' o' care!
Thou'll break my heart, thou warbling bird,
That wantons thro' the flowering thorn:
Thou minds me o' departed joys,
Departed never to return.
Aft hae I rov'd by bonnie Doon,
To see the rose and woodbine twine:
And ilka bird sang o' its Luve,
And fondly sae did I o' mine.
Wi' lightsome heart I pu'd a rose,
Fu' sweet upon its thorny tree!
But may fause Luver staw my rose,
And ah! She left the thorn wi' me.
Ye banks and slopes of the beautiful Doon,
How can you bloom so fresh and fair?
How can you chant, you little birds,
And I so weary, full of care!
You will break my heart, you warbling bird,
That frolics through the flowering thorn:
You remind me of departed joys,
Departed - never to return!
Often have I wandered by the beautiful Doon,
To see the rose and woodbine entwine:
And every bird sang of its love,
And fondly so did I of mine.
With lightsome heart I pulled a rose,
Full sweet upon its thorny tree!
But my false lover stole my rose,
And ah! She left the thorn with me.
Comments
"Ye Banks and Braes" inspired the creation of a song in India called Phule Phule Dhole Dhole (A Touch of a Sweet Breeze) by the well-known Bengali musician, Rabindranath Tagore.
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Thanks and Acknowledgements
Photo: River Doon by James Hearton, cc.
