Best Burns song

Published on Tuesday 27 January 2009 18:36

SCOTSMAN readers voted for Ae Fond Kiss as their favourite – but regular Recommender George had already submitted his Top 5 before we launched the vote:

IS THERE FOR HONEST POVERTY Better known as, A man's a man for a' that, this song is regarded by many as Burns's greatest. In it, Burns makes plain a man's character and how he lives is more important than his rank in society. The poorest and most humble are (at least) the equal of the rich and powerful:

For a' that, an a' that

Our toils obscure, an' a that,

The rank is but the guinea's stamp,

The man's the gowd for a' that.

SCOTS WHA HAE If A man's a man for a' that is international in outlook, Scots Wha Hae is unashamedly Scottish. For years this was the unofficial Scottish national anthem, and was written by Burns to represent the rousing address by Robert the Bruce before the Battle of Bannockburn.

Scots wha hae wi' Wallace bled

Scots, wham Bruce has aften led,

Welcome to your gory bed

Or to victorie!

A RED, RED ROSE Of all Burns's love poems and songs this is probably the best known. I recall it being recited in cult American TV show Northern Exposure a few years ago. Nearly brought a tear to my glass eye!

As fair art thou, my bonie lass,

So deep in luve am I,

And I will Love thee still my Dear,

Till a' the seas gang dry.

ADDRESS TO A HAGGIS: Outside Happy Birthday could this odehave been the most spoken words in the English language on 25 January, as Burns's devotees all over the world gathered to celebrate?

Fair fa' your honest sonsie face,

Great Chieftan o' the puddin-race!

AULD LANG SYNE: Sung, or more usually attempted, the world over on Hogmanay, but it is not only a song for New Year. It has featured in many movies, most recently Sex and the City.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And never brought to mind?

Should Auld acquaintance be forgot,

And days o' auld lang syne?