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Index

The Banks O' Doon

 

Burns Original

Standard English Translation

1.
Ye banks and braes o' bonie Doon,
How can ye bloom sae fresh and fair?
How can ye chant, ye little birds,
And I sae weary fu' o' care!
Thou'll break my heart, thou warbling bird,
That wantons thro' the flowering thorn!
Thou minds me o' departed joys,
Departed never to return.
2.
Aft hae I rov'd by bonie Doon
To see the rose and woodbine twine,
And ilka bird sang o' its luve,
And fondly sae did I o' mine.
Wi' lightsome heart I pu'd a rose,
Fu' sweet upon its thorny tree!
And my fause luver staw my rose --
But ah! he left the thorn wi' me.


You banks and sides of bonny Doon,
How can you bloom so fresh and fair?
How can you chant, you little birds,
And I so weary full of care!
You will break my heart, you warbling bird,
That flies through the flowering thorn!
You remind me of departed joys,
Departed never to return.

Often have I roved by bonny Doon
To see the rose and woodbine twine,
And every bird sang of its love,
And fondly so did I of mine.
With lightsome heart I plucked a rose,
Full sweet upon its thorny tree!
And my false lover stole my rose -
But ah! he left the thorn with me.

 

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