Talk:The Poetical Works of Robert Burns/A red, red Rose

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Information about this edition
Edition:
Source:	Madden, D (Ed.). (2002). A Pocketful of Poems. Vintage Books.
Contributor(s):	Bluesky1775
Level of progress:	Proofread once
Notes:	When Bluesky1775 contributed this work, there was no source. newmanbe changed the work to match his source.
Proofreaders:	newmanbe

Burns' original

One Project Gutenberg proofread version is as follows:

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CXLIX. A RED, RED ROSE.

Tune—“Graham’s Strathspey.”

[Some editors have pleased themselves with tracing the sentiments of this song in certain street ballads: it resembles them as much as a sour sloe resembles a drop-ripe damson.]

I.
O, my luve’s like a red, red rose,
 That’s newly sprung in June:
O, my luve’s like the melodie,
 That’s sweetly play’d in tune.

II.
As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
 So deep in luve am I:
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
 ’Till a’ the seas gang dry.

III.
’Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear,
 And the rocks melt wi’ the sun:
I will luve thee still, my dear,
 While the sands o’ life shall run.

IV.
And fare thee weel, my only luve!
 And fare thee weel a-while!
And I will come again, my luve,
 Tho’ it were ten thousand mile.

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From:

The Complete Works of Robert Burns: Containing his Poems, Songs, and Correspondence.

With a New Life of the Poet, and Notices, Critical and Biographical

by Allan Cunningham

PG also has this alternate version:

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A Red, Red Rose

    [Hear Red, Red Rose]

    O my Luve's like a red, red rose,
    That's newly sprung in June:
    O my Luve's like the melodie,
    That's sweetly play'd in tune.

    As fair art thou, my bonie lass,
    So deep in luve am I;
    And I will luve thee still, my dear,
    Till a' the seas gang dry.

    Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear,
    And the rocks melt wi' the sun;
    And I will luve thee still, my dear,
    While the sands o' life shall run.

    And fare-thee-weel, my only Luve!
    And fare-thee-weel, a while!
    And I will come again, my Luve,
    Tho' 'twere ten thousand mile!

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From:

Poems And Songs Of Robert Burns

(no other information given)

Either of these seems more reliable than the version currently used. --KSmrq 2007-06-20