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by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796)

The birks of Abergeldie
 (Sung text for setting by J. Haydn)
 Matches base text
Language: Scottish (Scots) 
Our translations:  FRE
Bonie lassie, will ye go,
Will ye go, will ye go,
Bonie lassie, will ye go
To the birks of Aberfeldy?
Now simmer blinks on flow'ry braes,
And o'er the chrystal streamlet plays;
Come let us spend the lightsome days
In the birks of Aberfeldy.

Bonie lassie, &c.
The little birdies blythely sing,
While o'er their heads the hazels hing,
Or lightly flit on wanton wing
In the birks of Aberfeldy.

Bonie lassie, &c.
The braes ascend like lofty wa's,
The foaming stream deep roaring fa's,
O'er-hung wi' fragrant spreading shaws,
The birks of Aberfeldy.

Bonie lassie, &c.
The hoary cliffs are crown'd wi' flowers,
White o'er the linns the burnie pours,
And rising weets wi' misty showers
The birks of Aberfeldy.

Bonie lassie, &c.
Let Fortune's gifts at random flee,
They ne'er shall draw a wish frae me,
Supremely blest wi' love and thee
In the birks of Aberfeldy.
GLOSSARY

Birks = birch trees
Braes = hillsides
Shaws = woody groves by a water side
Linns = waterfalls

Composition:

    Set to music by (Franz) Joseph Haydn (1732 - 1809), "The birks of Abergeldie", JHW XXXII/3 no. 237, Hob. XXXIa no. 58bis

Text Authorship:

  • by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796)

See other settings of this text.

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

  • CZE Czech (Čeština) (Josef Václav Sládek) , "Bílé břízy"
  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Les bouleaux d'Abergeldy", copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani

This text was added to the website: 2009-12-29
Line count: 28
Word count: 150

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