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by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796)

Johnie's grey breeks
 (Sung text for setting by J. Haydn)
 See original
Language: English 
Our translations:  FRE
'Twas ev'n -- the dewy fields were green,
On every blade the pearls hang;
The zephyr wanton'd round the bean,
And bore its fragrant sweets alang;
In ev'ry glen the mavis sang,
All nature list'ning seem'd the while,
Except where green-wood echoes rang
Among the braes of Ballochmyle.

With careless step I onward stray'd,
My heart rejoic'd in nature's joy,
When musing in a lonely glade,
A maiden fair I chanc'd to spy;
Her look was like the morning's eye,
Her air like nature's vernal smile;
The lily's hue and rose's dye
Bespoke the lass o' Ballochmyle.

Fair is the morn in flow'ry May,
And sweet is night in autumn mild,
When roving through the garden gay,
Or wand'ring in the lonely wild:
But woman, nature's darling child!
There all her charms she does compile;
Even there her other works are foil'd
By the bonny lass o' Ballochmyle.

O had she been a country maid,
And I the happy country swain,
Tho' shelter'd in the lowest shed
That ever rose on Scotland's plain!
Thro' weary winter's wind and rain
With joy, with rapture, I would toil;
And nightly to my bosom strain
The bonny lass o' Ballochmyle.

 ... 

Composition:

    Set to music by (Franz) Joseph Haydn (1732 - 1809), "Johnie's grey breeks", JHW XXXII/3 no. 177, Hob. XXXIa no. 154, stanzas 1-4

Text Authorship:

  • by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), title 1: "The lass of Ballochmyle", title 2: "Johnie's grey breeks"

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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • CZE Czech (Čeština) (Josef Václav Sládek) , "Dívka z Ballochmyle"
  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Research team for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani , Pierre Mathé [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2009-12-29
Line count: 40
Word count: 251

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