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Red Justice

I could have put this in the history section but Robert Burns is living history for all of us and tonight we celebrate the great poet. it would be interesting to know what is your favourite poem by Burns in today's Scotland.

This is mine as Burns was egalitarian and also had a social conscience during his life as Scotland's poet:

http://www.robertburns.org

http://www.robertburns.org/works/496.shtml

1795
Type: Song
Tune: For a' that.

Is there for honest Poverty
That hings his head, an' a' that;
The coward slave-we pass him by,
We dare be poor for a' that!
For a' that, an' a' that.
Our toils obscure an' a' that,
The rank is but the guinea's stamp,
The Man's the gowd for a' that.

What though on hamely fare we dine,
Wear hoddin grey, an' a that;
Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine;
A Man's a Man for a' that:
For a' that, and a' that,
Their tinsel show, an' a' that;
The honest man, tho' e'er sae poor,
Is king o' men for a' that.

Ye see yon birkie, ca'd a lord,
Wha struts, an' stares, an' a' that;
Tho' hundreds worship at his word,
He's but a coof for a' that:
For a' that, an' a' that,
His ribband, star, an' a' that:
The man o' independent mind
He looks an' laughs at a' that.

A prince can mak a belted knight,
A marquis, duke, an' a' that;
But an honest man's abon his might,
Gude faith, he maunna fa' that!
For a' that, an' a' that,
Their dignities an' a' that;
The pith o' sense, an' pride o' worth,
Are higher rank than a' that.

Then let us pray that come it may,
(As come it will for a' that,)
That Sense and Worth, o'er a' the earth,
Shall bear the gree, an' a' that.
For a' that, an' a' that,
It's coming yet for a' that,
That Man to Man, the world o'er,
Shall brothers be for a' that.

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Aventinian · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 1:06 pm Post subject:

I too like For A' That, it makes a rare song.

However my favourite has to be the following:

Willie Brew'd A Peck O' Maut

Chorus
We are na fou, we're nae that fou,
But just a drappie in our e'e!
The c**k may craw, the day may daw,
And ay we'll taste the barley-bree!
1.
O, Willie brewed a peck o' maut,
And Rob and Allan cam to prie.
Three blythe hearts that lee-lang night
Ye wad na found in Christendie.
2.
Here are we met three merry boys,
Three merry boys I trow are we;
And monie a night we've merry been,
And monie mae we hope to be!
3.
It is the moon, I ken her horn,
That's blinkin in the lift sae hie:
She shines sae bright to wyle us hame,
But, by my sooth, she'll wait a wee!
4.
Wha first shall rise to gang awa,
A cuckold, coward loun is he!
Wha first beside his chair shall fa',
He is the King amang us three!

Happy Burns' Night to one and all.
_________________
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'Socialists cry "Power to the people", and raise the clenched fist as they say it. We all know what they really mean—power over people, power to the State.'

Rinty · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 5:09 pm Post subject:

Why should we idly waste our prime
Repeating our oppressions?
Come rouse to arms! 'Tis now the time
To punish past transgressions.
'Tis said that Kings can do no wrong --
Their murderous deeds deny it,
And, since from us their power is sprung,
We have a right to try it.
Now each true patriot's song shall be: -
'Welcome Death or Libertie!'

Proud Priests and Bishops we'll translate
And canonize as Martyrs;
The guillotine on Peers shall wait;
And Knights shall hang in garters.
Those Despots long have trode us down,
And Judges are their engines:
Such wretched minions of a Crown
Demand the people's vengeance!
To-day 'tis theirs. To-morrow we
Shall don the Cap of Libertie!

The Golden Age we'll then revive:
Each man will be a brother;
In harmony we all shall live,
And share the earth together;
In Virtue train'd, enlighten'd Youth
Will love each fellow-creature;
And future years shall prove the truth
That Man is good by nature:
Then let us toast with three times three
The reign of Peace and Libertie!

agentmancuso · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 5:35 pm Post subject:

How about Does Haughty Gaul Invasion Threat?

Holebender · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 11:32 pm Post subject:

It's Holy Willie's Prayer for me. It's a biting satire and has self-righteous "Holy Willies" everywhere bang to rights.
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"My instinct is to agree with your opinion of his verse, but I've never so much as glanced at it." - agentmancuso

Aventinian · Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 3:36 am Post subject:

William_Cleland · This is Ma' Life! Joined: 22 Apr 2007 Posts: 778

^^Sadly predictable but I suppose winding people up on here helps him vent his spleen after a day in the classroom.

Epitaph For James Smith

1785
Type: Epitaph

Lament him, Mauchline husbands a',
He aften did assist ye;
For had ye staid hale weeks awa,
Your wives they ne'er had miss'd ye.

Ye Mauchline bairns, as on ye press
To school in bands thegither,
O tread ye lightly on his grass, -
Perhaps he was your father!

RadgeJougal · Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 5:18 pm Post subject:

The Twa Dugs (obviously)

azzuri · 'Our Scotland' Fossil Joined: 12 Sep 2005 Posts: 3777

I have two which I love for differing reasons, the first already having been mentioned, A Man's A Man for A' That!

But "Charlie, He's my Darling", that just edges it for me. My granny used to sing to me when I was wee, little did she know the song's all about how easy it is to make love to a lady while wearing a kilt! Wink

see - http://www.robertburns.org/works/458.shtml
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agentmancuso · Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 7:38 pm Post subject:

will live from Glasgow · On A Journey (500 Miles) Joined: 12 Oct 2007 Posts: 48

to a louse if only for the line

"O wad some Power the gift tae gie us
To see oursels as ithers see us!"

cos weve all wanted it at some point and it sounds so much more profound the way he writes it.

William_Cleland · This is Ma' Life! Joined: 22 Apr 2007 Posts: 778

Red Justice · Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 2:46 pm Post subject:

RadgeJougal · Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 5:07 pm Post subject:

agentmancuso · Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 6:16 pm Post subject:

agentmancuso · Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 6:17 pm Post subject:

William_Cleland · This is Ma' Life! Joined: 22 Apr 2007 Posts: 778

I already gave you one as did RadgeJougal. Not wasting any more of my time on such a ridiculous windup.

agentmancuso · Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 5:15 pm Post subject:

William_Cleland · This is Ma' Life! Joined: 22 Apr 2007 Posts: 778

Got better things to do with my time particularly when I strongly suspect that your posture revolves around your now well documented prejudices about "dialect".

agentmancuso · Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 3:16 pm Post subject:

I like dialects. I like Burns. But I don't think he can really be described as a 'major' poet. What's that got to do with prejudice?
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Liberty does not mean all good things, or the absence of all evils
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