Agnes Broun - Influence Upon Robert Burns

Influence Upon Robert Burns

She is widely known to have entertained her young “Rabbie” with legends from local oral traditions, and folk songs. The biographer Hecht relates that "her sweet singing was heard as she went about the heavy work of the day, for she had a good voice and a wonderful stock of old and new ballads and songs, such as were current amongst the people. ... In the art of story-telling she had a rival in an old linswoman, Betty Davidson, who was frequently a guest in the little household at Alloway."

Agnes is credited with having a significant influence upon Burns' love for song. A relative, Betty Davidson, was a greater influence, These twin influences resulted in him writing or revising close on three hundred and fifty songs throughout his life. Most of these songs were published, without fee, in the "Scots Musical Museum" compiled by James Johnson and the "Select Collection of Original Scottish Airs" published by George Thomson.

The following bawdy song is said to have been her favourite ballad and also that of her son:

"Kissin is the key o love,
An clappin is the lock,
An makin o's the best thing
That e'er a young thing got."

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