Watch Suzi introduce a bit about Scots Culture and Rabbie Burns

Listen to Suzi read  "A Red, Red Rose" by Robert Burns

A Red, Red Rose by Robert Burns

O my love is like a red, red rose,

That’s newly sprung in June:

O my love is like the melody,

That’s sweetly played in tune.

As fair thou art, my bonnie lass,

So deep in love am I;

And I will love 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 love thee still, my dear.

While the sands o’ life shall run.

And fare thee weel, my only love!

And fare thee weel awhile!

And I will come again, my love,

Tho’ it were ten thousand mile

TASK!

Often we study "A Red, Red Rose" as a poem. However, many composers have set Burns' poetry to music, so this is also a song in Scots which was written in 1794.

Choose a love song that you like. (The chances are there will be many in the charts right now.) What qualities does it have? Does it have anything in common with Red, red rose? Can you find some similes or metaphors in the song lyrics?