Ae Fond Kiss Robert Burns Song Scotland

Tour Scotland travel video of the Ae Fond Kiss song by Robert Burns set to a slide show of some of my photographs of Scottish mountains. Ae Fond Kiss is the most famous and widely acclaimed song to arise from Robert Burns's association with Agnes McLehose, an educated woman whom he met whilst in Edinburgh in 1787 and who was separated from her husband James McLehose, a Glasgow lawyer. The lovers exchanged a wealth of letters in which they refer to each other as Sylvander and Clarinda. Mrs McLehose inspired some of Burns's most famous works including the song Ae fond Kiss.

Ae fond kiss, and then we sever;
Ae fareweel, and then for ever!
Deep in heart wrung tears I'll pledge thee,
Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee.
Who shall say that Fortune grieves him,
While the star of hope she leaves him?
Me, nae cheerful twinkle lights me;
Dark despair around benights me.

I'll ne'er blame my partial fancy,
Naething could resist my Nancy:
But to see her was to love her;
Love but her, and love for ever.
Had we never lov'd sae kindly,
Had we never lov'd sae blindly,
Never met-or never parted,
We had ne'er been broken hearted.

Fare thee weel, thou first and fairest!
Fare thee weel, thou best and dearest!
Thine be ilka joy and treasure,
Peace, Enjoyment, Love and Pleasure!
Ae fond kiss, and then we sever!
Ae fareweel alas, for ever!
Deep in heart wrung tears I'll pledge thee,
Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee.

The only occasion that Robert Burns visited Perth, Perthshire, was towards the end of his 22 day tour of the Highlands during August and September, 1787.

All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

View the most recent Tour Scotland photographs.