Lyr Req: The Rigs o' Barley (Robert Burns)

Subject: Lyr Add: THE RIGS O' BARLEY (Robert Burns)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 20 Jan 11 - 11:05 PM

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.

Subject: RE: Among the Sheaves with Annie
From: Bagpuss
Date: 27 Mar 01 - 09:08 AM

I had been meaning to look up the words to this song on mudcat for ages (ever since I got an Ossian album it is on). Thanks for reminding me.

Bagpuss

Subject: RE: Among the Sheaves with Annie
From: Jeri
Date: 27 Mar 01 - 07:08 AM

Bruce doesn't do clickies. You could go to Links and look for it, or you could click here.

Subject: RE: Among the Sheaves with Annie
From: Deni
Date: 27 Mar 01 - 03:11 AM

Have I missed something here? How can I get to see your website Bruce O?

Subject: RE: Among the Sheaves with Annie
From: Thomas the Rhymer
Date: 26 Mar 01 - 11:48 PM

Hey Bruce! I just listened to the midi in the mudcat, and the tune was "modernized" beyond recognition for the music score... I do think the original is excellent, but I am having a hard time fitting the words to the score. Seems there are plenty of notes for each word...

Subject: RE: Among the Sheaves with Annie
From: GUEST,Bruce O.
Date: 26 Mar 01 - 11:07 PM

The tune is much older than Burns' song. See 'corn' in the Scot tunes and Scots tunes in MSS file on my website, and for some related verses see "Braw Lads o' Galla Water" in the Scarce Songs 2 file there.

Subject: RE: Among the Sheaves with Annie
From: Thomas the Rhymer
Date: 26 Mar 01 - 10:39 PM

This was the theme song to the delightful movie called "THE WICKER MAN", and I have been wondering about it for a long time! Thanks for asking, Nancy!

Subject: RE: Among the Sheaves with Annie
From: GUEST,Nancy
Date: 26 Mar 01 - 10:05 PM

thanks a lot, Jon....altho many of the words are different that what I'm remembering, they fit the tune in my head exactly. Had no idea it was written by R.Burns!

Thanks again....nancy

Subject: RE: Among the Sheaves with Annie
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 24 Mar 01 - 05:16 PM

Is it Corn rigs/Rigs o' Barley?

Jon

Subject: Among the Sheaves with Annie
From: GUEST,Nancy
Date: 24 Mar 01 - 05:08 PM

Trying to find the lyrics to a harvest song from the Brit. Isles....The last 2 lines of the 4 line chorus are..."I'll ne'er forget the night I spent, Among the sheaves with Annie, first 2 lines "? ?, ? ?, oats, pease beans and barley...the melody has been going round in my head but I just can't get the words back... Thanks very much for this forum and for any help you can give....Nancy