Walker
🪗
As it's Robert Burns Night here's a wee poem for you, read by the great Scottish actor Robert Carlyle...
To a Louse
To a Louse
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Robert Burns Poem
- Thread starter Walker
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boxplayer4000
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Thanks Walker.
Not his best known but good nevertheless. It beats the BBC contribution.
Will Google translator cope I wonder?
Not his best known but good nevertheless. It beats the BBC contribution.
Will Google translator cope I wonder?
Walker
🪗
Hi Tom, sorry buddy but I only have it in the Scots language. However, if you dive through the video into Youtubeland there is a script of the poem (in the details section of the video) where you can read both the original Scots text and a modern English translation.
However, it will loose something of its essence through translation. A bit like changing Shakespeare into modern English, if you know what I mean.
However, it will loose something of its essence through translation. A bit like changing Shakespeare into modern English, if you know what I mean.
I'm playing for three Burns Nights this week, down here in Oxfordshire. Thanks Rabbie!
It's a pity that when you have the speeches at a Burns Night nearly everyone goes on about the man and his faults - he's been dead over 220 years! What we have is the poetry and its incredible directness and humanity from a time when most poets were still busy going on about Greek gods and goddesses!
(I'll not be wearing the tammy and orange hair! A rather more sober Black Watch kilt!)
It's a pity that when you have the speeches at a Burns Night nearly everyone goes on about the man and his faults - he's been dead over 220 years! What we have is the poetry and its incredible directness and humanity from a time when most poets were still busy going on about Greek gods and goddesses!
(I'll not be wearing the tammy and orange hair! A rather more sober Black Watch kilt!)
boxplayer4000
Prolific poster
You mention the 'the man and his faults'. Sadly he's fallen victim to some politically correct third-rate intellectuals who have taken to judging people from 3 centuries ago with todays standards; slavery in this case which is ridiculous as Burns wrote so much condemning slavery.
I hope you enjoy your Burns gigs.
I'm sure we'll enjoy them thanks.
Rather than slavery (which I'd not heard mentioned) it tends to be a more a matter of how many children he fathered.
Well my Burns supper is on Friday, tonight being a school night. However here is the poet's most famous lines set by Scotland's (and UK's) greatest living composer...
Walker
🪗
Thanks for your nice analysis, TomBR. It is interesting that you mention most people's comments on the bard's behaviours, and that reminds me of perhaps the most potent part of To A Louse, in the final stanza...
"O wad some Power the giftie gie us
To see oursels as ithers see us!
It wad frae mony a blunder free us"
Seems to me he is saying that it could sometimes be a cringeworthy experience
, if we were given the chance to take a look at ourselves - through the eyes of others. Wow, Burns doesn't hold back with his punchy perspective - he was awesome!
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Dingo40
Been here for ages!
Actually, I prefer this one 
:
(What a difference a single letter makes!
)
www.poetryfoundation.org
Standard English version:
:(What a difference a single letter makes!
)
To a Mouse
I wad be laith to rin an’ chase thee Wi’ murd’ring pattle! I’m truly sorry Man’s dominion Has broken Nature’s social union, An’ justifies that ill opinion, Which makes thee startle, At me, thy poor, earth-born companion, An’ fellow-mortal! Thou saw the fields laid bare an’ waste, An’ weary Winter…
www.poetryfoundation.org
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hais1273
Well-known member
Burn's in my very humble opinion is one of the best poets from the British Isles. Ae Fond Kiss, My Joe ( I think it is) and many others cut to the heart of the human condition. Marvellous stuff.
Dingo40
Been here for ages!
I have two volumes of his poems:
"Poems and songs of Robert Burns", edited by James Barke, Collins, 1977 reprint of 1960 edition; "Robert Burns Poems and Songs ", introduced by James Kinsley Dent and Sons publishers 1958 edition.
As Burns himself says, "...I rhyme for fun..."
we have a statue of him on our state's "cultural boulevard "
The Scots were a major driving force here.
"Poems and songs of Robert Burns", edited by James Barke, Collins, 1977 reprint of 1960 edition; "Robert Burns Poems and Songs ", introduced by James Kinsley Dent and Sons publishers 1958 edition.
As Burns himself says, "...I rhyme for fun..."
we have a statue of him on our state's "cultural boulevard "
The Scots were a major driving force here.
boxplayer4000
Prolific poster
hais1273 ‘My Joe’ is probably ‘John Anderson my Jo’ John’. I hope somebody will correct me if I’m wrong but I’ve always thought this title would read ‘John Anderson, my darling John’ in modern parlance. The tune that it is normally sung to is suspiciously like the Battle Hymn of The Republic/Johnny Comes Marching Home.
Another American/Burns connection that may/may not be true is that the Burns composition ‘Green Grow the Rashes O’ was known worldwide shortly after being written. In a world without any modern, fast, communication it was quite remarkable. Some people believe the Mexicans besieging the Alamo in 1836 heard the trapped American soldiers singing ‘Green Grow the Rashes’ and the repetition of hearing ‘Green Grow’ caused them to nickname them ‘Gringos’. Even if it’s not true it’s a good story.
Another American/Burns connection that may/may not be true is that the Burns composition ‘Green Grow the Rashes O’ was known worldwide shortly after being written. In a world without any modern, fast, communication it was quite remarkable. Some people believe the Mexicans besieging the Alamo in 1836 heard the trapped American soldiers singing ‘Green Grow the Rashes’ and the repetition of hearing ‘Green Grow’ caused them to nickname them ‘Gringos’. Even if it’s not true it’s a good story.
JeffJetton
Prolific poster
Actually, I prefer this one
Standard English version:To a Mouse
I wad be laith to rin an’ chase thee Wi’ murd’ring pattle! I’m truly sorry Man’s dominion Has broken Nature’s social union, An’ justifies that ill opinion, Which makes thee startle, At me, thy poor, earth-born companion, An’ fellow-mortal! Thou saw the fields laid bare an’ waste, An’ weary Winter…
As do I. The final stanza always reminds me of a fairly recent book I read called "Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers", which largely makes the same point. The Bard of Ayrshire was 200 years ahead of his time!
boxplayer4000
Prolific poster
Until recently nearly every town and many villages had a Burns Club here in Scotland. However Scotland by no means had a monopoly as they existed all over the world and the appeal was just as strong in America as it was in Soviet Russia. An extraordinary talent was required to bridge
so many different cultures. The Burns Clubs here existed to promote the bard, his work was read and songs were sung. The people who were outstanding in reading the poetry and singing the songs were held in very high regard and were much sought after. The Clubs would hold competitions in the local schools for recitals and songs and prizes given. I think the local Burns Club was one of the first public places I ventured with my accordion to accompany singers (all in the days before Karaoke). Many of the 'singers' were untrained and didn't even know which key they wanted which complicated things for accompanists. On asking which key they wanted I was often told 'Just play the front door key son'.
Sadly most of the Clubs have disappeared and last night, Burns birthday night, there was no mention of him at all on the main TV channels.
I miss the songs and poems but have many pleasant memories of the very best of entertainers leading us all to a haunted church
or to peaceful flower-lined banks of a quiet, flowing stream.
so many different cultures. The Burns Clubs here existed to promote the bard, his work was read and songs were sung. The people who were outstanding in reading the poetry and singing the songs were held in very high regard and were much sought after. The Clubs would hold competitions in the local schools for recitals and songs and prizes given. I think the local Burns Club was one of the first public places I ventured with my accordion to accompany singers (all in the days before Karaoke). Many of the 'singers' were untrained and didn't even know which key they wanted which complicated things for accompanists. On asking which key they wanted I was often told 'Just play the front door key son'.
Sadly most of the Clubs have disappeared and last night, Burns birthday night, there was no mention of him at all on the main TV channels.
I miss the songs and poems but have many pleasant memories of the very best of entertainers leading us all to a haunted church
or to peaceful flower-lined banks of a quiet, flowing stream.
back on topic
Scotsman:
"Boss, I can't come to work today, I have a wee cough."
Boss: Huh? You have a 'wee cough'?
Scotsman:
"Thanks, i'll see ye in a week!"
Scotsman:
"Boss, I can't come to work today, I have a wee cough."
Boss: Huh? You have a 'wee cough'?
Scotsman:
"Thanks, i'll see ye in a week!"
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