‘A Red, Red Rose’ also known as ‘My Love is like a Red, Red Rose’ is perhaps one of Robert Burns’ most influential poems. Based on a traditional lyric it’s no wonder given if prolification in the english-speaking world that Bob Dylan called it his single biggest inspiration. Other musical references include The Pogues’ ‘I would walk ten thousand miles’ and the Eva Cassidy Song ‘My Love is like a Red, Red Rose‘.
The tetrameter and trimeter echo the traditional Scottish ballads of the age. Robert Burns was born in 1759. Scots all over the world celebrate his birthday on Burns night with A Burns supper, held on or near the poet’s birthday on the 25th of January.
A Red, Red Rose
O my Luve is like a red, red rose
That’s newly sprung in June;
O my Luve is like the melody
That’s sweetly played in tune.
– – –
So fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in luve am I;
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a’ the seas gang dry.
– – –
Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi’ the sun;
I will love thee still, my dear,
While the sands o’ life shall run.
– – –
And fare thee weel, my only luve!
And fare thee weel awhile!
And I will come again, my luve,
Though it were ten thousand mile.
Poem – A Red, Red Rose by Robert Burns
Image – Constructed by Splashlime from material licensed from adobe stock.
