___________________
The following Songs were all done at a very early
period of life and consequently are incorrect.-
A Song. - Tune, My Nanie O
Behind yon hills where Stinsiar flows,
Many moors an' mosses many, O;
The Sun the wintry day has clos'd,
And I'll awa to Nanie, O.
The following Songs were all done at a very early
period of life and consequently are incorrect.-
A Song. - Tune, My Nanie O
Behind yon hills where Stinsiar flows,
Many moors an' mosses many, O;
The Sun the wintry day has clos'd,
And I'll awa to Nanie, O.
2.
The westlin wind blaws loud an' shilt,
The night's baith dark an' rainy, O;
But I'll get my plaid an' out I'll steal,
An' owre the hill to Nanie, O.
3.
My Nanie's charming, sweet an' young;
Nae artfu' wiles to win ye, O:
May ill befa' the flatt'ring tongue
That would beguile my Nanie, O.
4.
Her face is fair, her heart is true;
As spotless as she's bonie,
The opning gowan, wet wi' dew,
Nae purer is than Nanie, O.
5.
A country lad is my degree,
An' few there be that ken me, O.
But what care I how few they be,
I'm welcome ay to Nanie, O.
6.
My riches a 's my penny fee,
An' I maun guide it canie, O;
But warld's gear ne'er troubles me,
My thoughts are a', my Nanie, O.
The westlin wind blaws loud an' shilt,
The night's baith dark an' rainy, O;
But I'll get my plaid an' out I'll steal,
An' owre the hill to Nanie, O.
3.
My Nanie's charming, sweet an' young;
Nae artfu' wiles to win ye, O:
May ill befa' the flatt'ring tongue
That would beguile my Nanie, O.
4.
Her face is fair, her heart is true;
As spotless as she's bonie,
The opning gowan, wet wi' dew,
Nae purer is than Nanie, O.
5.
A country lad is my degree,
An' few there be that ken me, O.
But what care I how few they be,
I'm welcome ay to Nanie, O.
6.
My riches a 's my penny fee,
An' I maun guide it canie, O;
But warld's gear ne'er troubles me,
My thoughts are a', my Nanie, O.
7.
Our Guidman delights to view
His sheep an' kye thrive bonie, O;
But I'm as blythe that hands his plough,
An' has nae care but Nanie, O.
8.
Come weel, come woe, I care na by;
I'll tak what Heav'n will fin' me, O:
Nae other care in life have I,
But live an' love my Nanie, O.
______________________
Our Guidman delights to view
His sheep an' kye thrive bonie, O;
But I'm as blythe that hands his plough,
An' has nae care but Nanie, O.
8.
Come weel, come woe, I care na by;
I'll tak what Heav'n will fin' me, O:
Nae other care in life have I,
But live an' love my Nanie, O.
______________________
Key details
- Archive number
- NTS/02/25/BRN/02/182
- Alt. number
- 3.6275.d
- Date
- 1786
- On display
- No
- Creator
- Burns, Robert (Author)
- Recipient
- Stewart, Mrs Alexander
- Archive number
- NTS/02/25/BRN/02/182
- Alt. number
- 3.6275.d
- Date
- 1786
- On display
- No
- Creator
- Burns, Robert (Author)
- Recipient
- Stewart, Mrs Alexander
Description
My Nanie O, part of the Stair manuscript collection, originally composed 1777.
This is one of Burns' earliest recorded poems. He introduces this version in the Stair Manuscript with: 'The following songs were all done at a very early period of life and consequently are incorrect'. In the poem, he describes himself as a 'country plough boy' with little cash and without a care in the world while he has the love of his Nanie.
In the first page Burns sets the scene as he prepares to venture out on a wet night across the hills to visit his current love.
On the second page Burns tells us of going out over the moor lit by a wintry sun to see Nanie. He continues to extol her appearance and her virtues then turns to describe his own obscurity and poverty. These don't trouble him so long as he has his Nanie to welcome him.
In the last page Burns compares himself with the farmer for whom he works, who for all his wealth cannot be more at ease with his condition than Burns, a common plough boy with not a care in the world other than his love for Nanie.
The exact date of this poem is unknown but Burns must have written it while at Lochlie farm around 1777. Later on 26 Oct 1792 he discusses it with George Thomson with regard to the euphonic value of the name of the river in the first line. Burns's brother Gilbert surmised that Nanie was probably Agnes Fleming, daughter of a neighbouring farmer at Coldcothill or Doura.
On the second page Burns tells us of going out over the moor lit by a wintry sun to see Nanie. He continues to extol her appearance and her virtues then turns to describe his own obscurity and poverty. These don't trouble him so long as he has his Nanie to welcome him.
In the last page Burns compares himself with the farmer for whom he works, who for all his wealth cannot be more at ease with his condition than Burns, a common plough boy with not a care in the world other than his love for Nanie.
The exact date of this poem is unknown but Burns must have written it while at Lochlie farm around 1777. Later on 26 Oct 1792 he discusses it with George Thomson with regard to the euphonic value of the name of the river in the first line. Burns's brother Gilbert surmised that Nanie was probably Agnes Fleming, daughter of a neighbouring farmer at Coldcothill or Doura.
Archive information
Themes
Hierarchy
-
Robert Burns, collection of poems and songs
(
a sub-fonds is a subdivision in the archival material)
- My Nanie O