Robert Burns 1759 – 1796 The nations best known and best loved poet and songster. In his short life Robert wrote over 200 poems and collected or wrote over 360 songs. This album encompasses his early attempts as song-writing (Peggy, written when he was 16) through to his real masterpieces such as My Luve is Like a Red Red Rose. The De’ils Awa Wi The Exciseman Burns was an exciseman, and a brave one! He led the successful storming of the Rosamund in 1792 and shortly thereafter delivered this song at an excise dinner. Rattlin Roarin Willie When he went to Edinburgh in 1787 Burns quickly joined the Crochallan Fencibles, a men only drinking club for whom he produced much bawdry. Willie Dunbar was their self-styled ‘colonel’ and in this song Burns conveys something of Willie’s humour. Dainty Davie There are many sets of words along this theme. Burns has a bawdry version too but this one is more civilised. To Mary in Heaven(Thou Lingering Star) This was written on the third anniversary of (Highland) Mary Campbell’s death. It shows that she long lingered in his mind, even after death. Peggy(Now Westlin’ Winds) Written in the summer of 1775 when Burns was studying mathematics in Kirkoswald. Peggy was in fact Margaret Thomson whom he described thus; “a charming fillette who lived next door to the school, overset my Trigonometry, and set me off at a tangent from the sphere of my studies”. Killiecrankie The reworking of an old Jacobite song telling the story of the battle fought on 27th July 1689 between the Highlanders, led by Bonnie Dundee and General Hugh Mackay’s troops. The speaker is one of Mackay’s men. Willie Brewed a Peck O Maut In 1789 Burns and his friend Allan Masterton visited William Nicol who was holidaying in Moffat. They had such a joyous time that they recorded it thus. Ae Fond Kiss Written for Agnes McLehose, his Nancy or Clarinda, on her departure for Jamaica. One of the most poignant love songs ever written. Auld Lang Syne Based on an old song fragment Burns collected. This is not the well-known tune but one of at least three which exist. Ye Jacobites By Name Another old Jacobite song; long popular at Burns Supers and folk nights. My Luve is Like a Red Red Rose A superb example of how Burns could rework old ballads, several of which are subsumed into this masterpiece. It was first published 1794. A Man’s A Man For A’ That Sent to Thomson in 1795, an excellent example of Burns views on fraternity and equality. Known the world over and as needed today as it ever was.