The Rights of Women was written by Robert Burns in 1792.

Back in the days of Burns women didn't have many rights. The subject of women's rights was highly unpopular and very rarely talked about. Robert is being a bit of a rebel writing this poem, but he did love women and he was in favour of women's rights. It was written for a specific benefit night which was held at the Dumfries theatre on the 26th of November 1792. The benefit night was hosted by an actress called 'Louisa Fontenelle',

Address to the Toothache, written in 1786.

In the late 1700's dentistry didn't really exist. If you got the toothache you had to just deal with the pain, there was no pain relief. If things got really bad you would have to find someone willing to pull your teeth out. Probably a barber / surgeon.

Robert put all of his pain into this poem. You can almost feel the pain and misery of the ongoing toothache as you make your way through the verses.

Enjoy!

This week I am working in Stockholm.

I managed to get two English colleagues, Jim and Ru, to take part in a Burns quiz. The quiz is made up of two rounds of 10 questions, with the second 10 having a very Swedish twist. This was filmed in the Quality Hotel Globe in Stockholm after an afternoon spent wandering around the old town and having a few beers. 

I hope you enjoy it, join in, and get a better score than Jim and Ru.

Cheers!

My love is like a red red rose is a beautiful love song written by Robert Burns around 1792. 

Robert said that it was an old Scots song that he had collected in the country. I believe it may well have been old, but Robert must have rewritten it. I believe this as it has very modern language which includes the concept of geological time, which was practically unheard of at the time.  This may have come from Roberts friendship with James Hutton, who was a pioneer in this field. 

It was first published in 1794 by Pietro Urbani in his work, Scots Songs, although it had a different tune to the one we know today. Pietro was a singer composer from Milan that Robert met in 1793. The song we sing today, with the tune we know today,  (called low down in the broom), was first put together by a Paisley composer / editor called Robert Archibald Smith in 1821. The publication was called 'Scottish Minstrel'.

My love is like a red red rose is a beautiful song, check out some versions of it on youtube. It's well worth it.

To a Louse is a poem written by Robert Burns in 1786. It is set in the church at Mauchline during a Sunday Service. At first glance the poem is about a head lice, but, it is in fact about perception and the social classes.

Robert is Sitting in Church and sees a head lice on a very prim and proper lady. He can't believe the impudence of the head lice and says it should have chosen someone else to be upon. Someone like a tramp or a ragged boy. However he goes on to say that according to the head lice we are all the same.

At the end of the poem Robert says that it would be a great gift if we could see ourselves as other people see us, it would from many blunders free us, and foolish  notions.

Very true...

Holy Willie's Prayer is a fabulous satirical poem. It's one of the best satirical poems ever written in the Scots tongue. It is all about the hypocrisy of the Church, and one person in particular. 

Willie Fisher was an elder of the kirk in Mauchline, and spied on people and then told the Church to punish them for their sins. He took a dislike to Gavin Hamilton and a feud started. This resulted in a court case which angered Robert Burns, who went on to use this incident as the basis for this poem. Gavin won the court case, with the help of another lawyer, Robert Aitken.

The poem that this incident inspired is a work of art, and is performed at many Burns Suppers the world over.

Robert also wrote Epitaph to Holy Willie and The Kirk's Alarm, two other poems about Willie Fisher.

What is a Burns Supper? 

I look at the classic Scottish Celebration, The Burns Supper. I ask what is is all about?, when did it start?  and why should I go to one? For the answers to these questions listen to this episode!

Also, if you like Scotland, interesting food, (Haggis), enjoy a drink, and like a sing along - you will love a Burns Supper!!!

In this episode of Burns Banter we play some of Robert Burns songs and tunes. 

I have guests! on this weeks show we have the band 'Garbh Uisge'. We chat about songs such as 'A Fond Kiss', 'Auld Lang Syne' and 'Green Grow the Rashes'. Garbh Uisge treat us to some live performances and unfortunately I also sing.

We hear some great burns waltz's and fast reels, talk about the stories behind the songs and generally have a good time. Tune in, listen and maybe even sing along with us ...

Slange Var!!!