Robbie Burns

Today is the day that Scotland celebrates the life and poems of its national poet - Robert Burns

 

He was born in Scotland, 25th January 1759, and was best known for his poetry and lyric writing. His most famous lyric ‘Auld Lang Syne’ is often sung worldwide on New Year’s Eve.

He was the son of a farmer and had 6 younger brothers and sisters. With little money for school his father taught them all how to read and write. At 15 Robert wrote his first poem ‘O, Once I Lov’d A Bonnie Lass’. 


His work was often inspired by love! 

In 1784, after the death of his father, Robert and his brother took over the farm but struggled financially. In 1786 he had decided to immigrate to Jamaica were he could work as a bookkeeper for £30 a year. As he was penniless it was suggested to him that he publish his poems in order to pay for the passage.

By July that year he had TWO volumes of his works published and was soon known across the country. His success was immediate so plans of immigrating were dismissed and instead he choose Edinburgh as his home where he was received as an equal of the aristocracy and other literary heroes. Later that year a new edition of his poems were published bringing him £400!

He wrote many a lyric to preserve Scottish Folk music and many more of his works were published. He was very political and inspired many people until he died in 1796 aged 37. You will find statues of him all over the world from Aberdeen, Scotland to Vancouver, Canada and his works still inspire poets and musicians to this day.

Each year on 24th January people remember Robert Burns by having a ‘Burn’s supper’ of haggis, neeps and tatties, toasting the haggis and raising a glass of whisky in memory of him and his work.

This is Tara's favourite Robbie Burns poem ‘My Love Is Like A Red Red Rose’ sung by Eva Cassidy