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

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Burns' original
One Project Gutenberg proofread version is as follows:

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.  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:

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!

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