Ae Fond Kiss (song)

Last updated

The Scots song "Ae fond kiss and then we sever" by the Scottish poet Robert Burns is more commonly known as "Ae fond kiss". It is Burns's most recorded love song.

Contents

History

Grave of "Clarinda" in Canongate Kirkyard The grave of 'Clarinda', Canongate Kirkyard.jpg
Grave of "Clarinda" in Canongate Kirkyard

After the publication of his collected poems, the Kilmarnock volume, Burns regularly travelled and stayed at Edinburgh. While there he established a platonic relationship with Mrs Agnes Maclehose and they began a regular correspondence using the pseudonyms "Clarinda" and "Sylvander". Burns wrote "Ae fond kiss" after their final meeting and sent it to Maclehose on 27 December 1791 before she departed Edinburgh for Jamaica to be with her estranged husband. [1] [2]

The letter [2] is held by National Library of Scotland as part of the Watson Autograph collection of manuscripts. [3]

Burns's original setting of three verses in eight lines was set to the tune of "Rory Dall's Port". The musical score [4] was published in the collection of Scottish folks songs known as the Scots Musical Museum . (The melody playable on the link here is not "Rory Dall's Port", but perhaps is now more associated with the words than the original.)

Lyrics

The first line on a memorial plaque Close-up of the inscription (OpenBenches 6872).jpg
The first line on a memorial plaque

The Ae is pronounced to rhyme with "hay". [1]

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 cheerfu' twinkle lights me,
Dark despair around benights me.
I'll ne'er blame my partial fancy;
Naething could resist my Nancy;
For to see her was to love her,
Love but her, and love for ever.
Had we never loved sae kindly,
Had we never loved 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!

Glossary

ae = adj only; sole. art a. [5]
Pronounced [] (EY) or [jeː] (YAY). [6] [7]
ilka = adj every [5]
sae = adv|conj so [5]

Recordings

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burns supper</span> Celebration of the life and poetry of Robert Burns (1759-1796)

A Burns supper is a celebration of the life and poetry of the poet Robert Burns, the author of many Scots poems. The suppers are normally held on or near the poet's birthday, 25 January, known as Burns Night also called Robert Burns Day or Rabbie Burns Day. However, in principle, celebrations may be held at any other time of the year. Burns suppers are held all around the world.

<i>Scots Musical Museum</i> Book by Robert Burns

The Scots Musical Museum was an influential collection of traditional folk music of Scotland published from 1787 to 1803. While it was not the first collection of Scottish folk songs and music, the six volumes with 100 songs in each collected many pieces, introduced new songs, and brought many of them into the classical music repertoire.

The "Lyke-Wake Dirge" is a traditional English folk song and dirge listed as number 8194 in the Roud Folk Song Index. The song tells of the soul's travel, and the hazards it faces, on its way from earth to purgatory, reminding the mourners to practise charity during lifetime. Though it is from the Christian era and features references to Christianity, much of the symbolism is thought to be of pre-Christian origin.

"Highland Laddie", also known as "Hielan' Laddie", is the name of a Scottish popular folk tune "If Thou'lt Play Me Fair Play", but as with many old melodies various sets of words can be sung to it, of which Robert Burns's poem "Highland Laddie" is probably the best known. "If Thou'lt Play Me Fair Play" has been reworked several times since Burns set down his words, Donkey Riding being one variant.

"Over the Hills and Far Away" is a traditional British song, dating back to at least the late 17th century. One version was published in Thomas D'Urfey's Wit and Mirth, or Pills to Purge Melancholy; a very different one appeared in George Farquhar's 1706 play The Recruiting Officer. A version also appears in John Gay's The Beggar's Opera of 1728.

"Annie Laurie" is an old Scottish song based on a poem said to have been written by William Douglas of Dumfriesshire, about his romance with Annie Laurie (1682–1764). The words were modified and the tune was added by Alicia Scott in 1834/5. The song is also known as "Maxwelton Braes".

<i>Ae Fond Kiss...</i> 2004 film

Ae Fond Kiss... is a 2004 romantic drama film directed by Ken Loach, and starring Atta Yaqub and Eva Birthistle. The title is taken from a Scottish song by Robert Burns, the complete line being "Ae Fond Kiss, and then we sever..."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Birks of Aberfeldy</span> Poem by Robert Burns

"The Birks of Aberfeldy" is a song lyric written for a pre-existing melody in 1787 by Robert Burns. He was inspired to write it by the Falls of Moness and the birch trees of Aberfeldy during a tour of the Scottish Highlands with his friend William Nicol.

James Oswald (1710–1769) was a Scottish composer, arranger, cellist, and music publisher, who was appointed as Chamber Composer for King George III and also wrote and published many Scottish folk tunes.

Lord Saltoun and Auchanachie, is a Scottish folk song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Andrew's in the Square</span> Church in Merchant City, Glasgow

St Andrew's in the Square is an 18th-century category-A-listed former church in Glasgow, Scotland, considered one of the finest classical churches in Scotland, and now Glasgow's Centre for Scottish Culture, promoting Scottish music, song and dance. The church is in St Andrew's Square, near Glasgow Cross and Glasgow Green, on the edge of the City's East End.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Such a Parcel of Rogues in a Nation</span> A Scottish folk song.

"Such a Parcel of Rogues in a Nation" is a Scottish folk song whose lyrics are taken from a poem written by Robert Burns in 1791, listed as number 5516 in the Roud Folk Song Index. It has continued to be associated with Scottish nationalism and also been referenced in other situations where politicians' actions have gone against popular opinion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canongate Kirkyard</span> Cemetery in City of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

The Canongate Kirkyard stands around Canongate Kirk on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, Scotland. The churchyard was used for burials from the late 1680s until the mid-20th century.

<i>Highland Mary</i> Song by Robert Burns

Highland Mary is a song composed in 1792 by Scottish poet Robert Burns. It is one of three works dedicated to Mary Campbell, with whom Burns was in love in the 1780s. The others, "Highland Lassie, O" and "Will Ye Go to the Indies My Mary?", were composed in 1786. "Highland Mary" consists of four stanzas that speak of Burns's affection for the lady, his melancholy at her death and his continued memory of her. The melody was that of "Katherine Ogie."

Bob Cranky's Adieu is a Geordie folk song written in the 19th century by John "Jack" Shield, in a style deriving from music hall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agnes Maclehose</span>

Agnes Maclehose, or Agnes Craig, known to her friends as Nancy and to Robert Burns followers as Clarinda, was a Scotswoman who had an unconsummated affair with Burns during 1787-88, on which he based the 1791 song "Ae Fond Kiss". The pseudonyms of her "Clarinda" to his "Sylvander" were adopted by the pair for confidential correspondence purposes. Maclehose, used here throughout, has been various styled, including "McLehose", "MacLehose" and "M'Lehose".

Ruairí Dall Ó Catháin may have been an Irish harper and composer. Recent research, however, raises the question whether he ever really existed. He is said to have been born circa 1580 in County Antrim and to have died circa 1653 at Eglinton Castle.

<i>Ay Fond Kiss</i> 1990 studio album by Fairground Attraction

Ay Fond Kiss is the second and final studio album released by British group Fairground Attraction. It was released on 18 June 1990. The title is a misspelling of the Robert Burns poem "Ae Fond Kiss", which lead singer Eddi Reader also covered on her 2003 album Sings the Songs of Robert Burns. The album consists mostly of unreleased recordings and B-sides to previously released singles. The album was also released after Reader had left the group. It peaked at number 55 in the UK Albums Chart.

<i>Handsome Nell</i> Poem by Robert Burns

Handsome Nell was the first song written by Robert Burns, often treated as a poem, that was first published in the last volume of James Johnson's Scots Musical Museum in 1803 (No.551) with an untitled tune. Burns recorded in holograph on page three of his first Commonplace Book that he wrote the song or Rhyme at the age of only fifteen whilst living at Mount Oliphant Farm, it is regarded as his earliest production, inspired by a farm servant aged fourteen, named either Nelly Kilpatrick or Nelly Blair. Some confusion exists as he also gave his age as 16 in his autobiographical letter to Dr. Moore; the autumn of 1774 is generally accepted.

<i>Still Time</i> (album) 2021 studio album by Karen Matheson

Still Time is the fifth solo (studio) album by Karen Matheson, lead singer of the Scottish folk band Capercaillie, released on CD and vinyl on 12 February 2021.

References

  1. 1 2 Gray, Pauline; O'Rourke, Danny. "Ae Fond Kiss". BBC . BBC. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Robert Burns: 1759–1796: Ae fond kiss". National Library of Scotland (facsimile of manuscript). 2014. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  3. "The Watson Autograph collections: MSS 586-587". National Library of Scotland. 2014. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  4. "Rory Dall's Port" (digital facsimile). National Library of Scotland.
  5. 1 2 3 Scot-English English-Scots Dictionary. New Lanark ML: Lomond Books. 1998. pp.  256. ISBN   0947782265.
  6. "Dictionaries of the Scots Language:: SND :: Ae".
  7. Kennedy-Fraser, Marjory. "Pronunciation in Lowland Scots Song". Рипол Классик. Retrieved 12 December 2022 via Google Books.
  8. "Uncovered - Steve Harley | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. 21 February 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2020.