A 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 bonnie 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:

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’ it were ten thousand mile!

---

### Key Notes About the Poem:

1. **Language & Dialect**: Written in Scots, a traditional language of Scotland, with words like *luve* (love), *gang* (go), and *weel* (well) .

2. **Themes**: Celebrates enduring love using hyperbolic imagery (e.g., seas drying, rocks melting) to emphasize timeless devotion .

3. **Musical Adaptations**: Originally a song, it has been set to various tunes, including the traditional melody *Low Down in the Broom* .

4. **Inspiration**: Burns drew from older Scottish folk songs, reworking phrases into this now-iconic piece .