Burns Banter - A fresh look at Robert Burns
Did you know that Robert Burns was the first person to feature on a Coca Cola bottle? Or that a book of his poems has orbited the earth 217 times? And he NEVER signed his name as Rabbie? This is a modern and light hearted look at the life and works of Robert Burns; poems explained; myths busted; songs sung and stories told. Listen, laugh, and maybe even learn something new with Alastair Turnbull and guests.
Burns Banter - A fresh look at Robert Burns
Burns Banter - Ep.18 Robert Burns 'My love is like a red red rose'
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.
