002 A Red, Red Rose
1．
O, my luve is like a red, red rose,
That's newly sprung in June.
O, my luve is like the melodie,
That's sweetly play'd in tune.
2．
As fair art thou, my bonie lass,
So deep in luve am I,
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a' the seas gang dry.
3．
Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi' the sun!
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
While the sands o' life shall run.
4．
And fare thee weel, my only luve!
And fare thee weel, a while!
And I will come again, my luve,
Tho' it were ten thousand mile!
Notes
Title Many songs were found to contain similar words and images to those that Burns used in reconstructing this present poem. Burns' rewording and new arrangement made this song popular all over the world. This poem was first printed in 1794.
Stanza 1
Line 1 luve: love
Line 3 melodie: melody
Stanza 2
Line 1 bonie: good; lass: girl, maiden
Line 4 a': all; gang: go
Stanza 3
Line 2 wi': with, because of
Line 4 sands o' life: sands of life (the sand-glass used to measure time in the past)
Stanza 4
Line 1 weel: well; fare thee weel: fare you well, farewell
Line 4 Tho: though; mile: miles