rabbie burns

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!!!

Willie Wastle, also known as 'Sic a wife Willie had' as a grotesquely funny poem / song about how unbelievably ugly Willie's wife is. Robert Burns wrote this poem in 1792 and he goes into comically hideous detail about this poor woman's appearance.   

The actual reason, or inspiration behind Robert Burns writing 'Willie Wastle' has been lost to history, but two different thoughts remain. One is that it is cover for some political rant about an incident or argument that has been long forgotten. The other thought is its actually about a specific woman. If it is about a specific woman then she probably annoyed or angered Robert in some way and he has repaid that anger by ripping her apart in verse.

Listen to this episode, hear the description of this unfortunate woman, (I explain all the Scots words so its easy to understand), and decide for yourself what the poem is actually about...

Slange Var !

WARNING !!! - This Episode is probably better watched as a video.
https://youtu.be/tXES21N-T9w?si=Lb5yL70GKXPYteFm

In this episode I travel to Dumfries and go on a whistle stop tour of the places Robert Burns lived, worked and socialised. Theses places include Robert Burns Grave, Robert Burns House, The Globe Inn and Ellisland Farm. 

I recite the poem 'My Love is like a Red Red Rose' in the very room that it was written in. I have the absolute pleasure of sitting in 'The Poets Chair' (THE chair Robert sat on and recited poetry in the Globe Inn) and I finish this episode with a visit to Ellisland Farm, where Robert wrote Tam O Shanter, The Wounded Hare, To Mary in Heaven and Auld Lang Syne.

If you want to see / hear about the places around Dumfries that influenced Robert Burns, then this is the episode for you!

The Selkirk Grace is a well known and well used grace. It is used not only at Burns Suppers but at family gatherings, weddings, funerals, birthdays, etc...

What is the Selkirk Grace? did Robert Burns write it? Listen to this episode to find out about this grace and its history. 

You will also hear about a few other grace's that Robert wrote and used.

Listen, laugh, and possibly even learn with Alastair Turnbull and Burns Banter.

Cheers!

'Willie Brew'd a Peck O' Maut' is one of Robert Burns best drinking songs.

It was written by Robert Burns in August / September 1789 whilst staying with Willie Nicol at his lodgings just outside Moffat. Allan Masterton was also there and he wrote the music. 

This all happened over a few days during a 'Lads weekend' together. It is just a whole lot of fun rolled up in some great lyrics and sung to a joyous tune.

Enjoy!

What is a Birk? Where is Aberfeldy? and what was Robert Burns doing there?

The answers to all of these questions, and more, is in this episode of Burns Banter.

We look at the poem / song The Birks o' Aberfeldy, which was written in 1757 during Robert Burns tour of Scotland. We also look at the lasting effect this poem has had on the area of Aberfeldy.

A fond kiss is one of Robert Burns best known love songs. 

Why did Robert Burns write this song? who are the people in the song? why are they being forced apart? To find out the answers to these questions check out this episode 3 of Burns Banter, which is all about the story behind the song 'A Fond Kiss'. In this episode I read the original version of Ae fond Kiss ,(which includes a lot of old Scottish words), I also read a modern english version - which helps to you to get past the old Scots words and finally understand what is actually being said. I also give some information on what happened to the people in the song...

If you want to understand more about Robert Burns, his poems, his songs and his life, then please subscribe to my podcast 'Burns Banter' - you won't be disappointed...

In this first ever episode of Burns Banter we look at Robert Burns first ever poem. What was it? who or what is it about? and the BIG question, why did he start writing poetry? What inspired him ? 

The answers to these questions, (and many more), are waiting for you, check it out...

In this second episode of Burns Banter we look at the song Rigs o' Barley. This is a popular song written by Robert Burns and is about two people who meet in the fields at night and spend some intimate time together.  I give you information about the people in the song, who are they? why meet at night?.. I will read the original song, (which includes a lot of old Scottish words), and then read a modern english version so that you can understand what is being said.

Fair warning!!! the themes in this song are quite adult. Tune into the episode if you want to find out who the people are, why they are meeting in the fields at night, what happened to them and lots more...

A Scottish Podcast About Scotland!

Happy Burns Night everyone!

This episode was recorded live over Zoom in front of a plethora of adoring, screaming and fanatical readers.

Thank you to everyone who was able to attend and join in on the shenanigans. Hopefully we can do this again sometime soon at a time that is more inclusive of our international listeners.

As the great man himself says "The best laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft agley", so please forgive the few audio issues we have throughout this one, we have the technical prowess of a louse.

Sláinte


CONTACT:

Instagram: thistledopod
Twitter: @thistledopod
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thistledopod
Email: thistledonicelypod@gmail.com
website & sources: https://www.thistledonicelypod.com/
Google Voicemail: 4844 TDN POD (484 483-6763)

https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/atlanta/bur.htm
https://www.highlandtitles.com/blog/6-unusual-facts-about-robert-burns/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/robertburns/burns_night_running_order.shtml
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/robert-burns-to-feature-on-commemorative-bottle-1031656

A Scottish Podcast About Scotland!

It's part two of our exploration into Scottish Culture Shocks.

We start off in the toilet and it's all down the pipe from there.  Food, drinking, sports and animals; we issue many warnings about what you're going to see when you make it over to our beautiful but silly land.

Remember to join our online Burns Night Live event: Tuesday 25th of January 8.30pm Eastern Time on Zoom. Meeting ID: 798 1490 7502

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/79814907502



Sláinte


CONTACT:

Instagram: thistledopod
Twitter: @thistledopod
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thistledopod
Email: thistledonicelypod@gmail.com
website & sources: https://www.thistledonicelypod.com/
Google Voicemail: 4844 TDN POD (484 483-6763)

This week we invite you to join us at our audio Burns Supper. 

We celebrate the anniversary of Scotland's most celebrated bard Robert Burns, AKA Rabbie Burns. 

We tell stories, recite poems, sing songs and drink a lot of whisky. Pull up a chair, grab yourself some haggis, neeps and tatties, and pour yourself a dram, as you enjoy Burns Supper with the Thistle Do Nicely Clan. 


Instagram: thistledopod
Twitter: @thistledopod
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thistledopod
Email: thistledonicelypod@gmail.com
website & sources: https://www.thistledonicelypod.com/