The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #32380   Message #3079128
Posted By: Jim Dixon
20-Jan-11 - 11:05 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: The Rigs o' Barley (Robert Burns)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE RIGS O' BARLEY (Robert Burns)
I think we have identified the song correctly, but it goes by several titles. THE RIGS O' BARLEY seems most common. It was only called SONG when it was first published in Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect by Robert Burns (Kilmarnock: John Wilson, 1786), page 224.

Since the DT version doesn't follow the original spelling, and contains some outright errors, I will post the original here:


SONG.
Tune, Corn rigs are bonie.

I.
It was upon a Lammas night,
When corn rigs are bonie,
Beneath the moon's unclouded light,
I held awa to Annie:
The time flew by, wi' tentless head,
Till 'tween the late and early;
Wi' sma' persuasion she agreed,
To see me thro' the barley.

II.
The sky was blue, the wind was still,
The moon was shining clearly;
I set her down, wi' right good will,
Amang the rigs o' barley:
I ken't her heart was a' my ain;
I lov'd her most sincerely;
I kiss'd her owre and owre again,
Amang the rigs o' barley.

III.
I lock'd her in my fond embrace;
Her heart was beating rarely:
My blessings on that happy place,
Amang the' rigs o' barley!
But by the moon and stars so bright,
That shone that night so clearly!
She ay shall bless that happy night,
Amang the rigs o' barley.

IV.
I hae been blythe wi' Comrades dear;
I hae been merry drinking;
I hae been joyfu' gath'rin gear;
I hae been happy thinking:
But a' the pleasures e'er I saw,
Tho' three times doubl'd fairly,
That happy night was worth them a',
Amang the rigs o' barley.

CHORUS. Corn rigs, an' barley rigs,
An' corn rigs are bonie:
I'll ne'er forget that happy night,
Amang the rigs wi' Annie.