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."

Read more about this topic:  Agnes Broun

Famous quotes containing the words robert burns, influence, robert and/or burns:

    O ye wha are sae guid yoursel,
    Sae pious and sae holy,
    Ye’ve nought to do but mark and tell
    Your neebour’s fauts and folly!
    Robert Burns (1759–1796)

    Temperament is the natural, inborn style of behavior of each individual. It’s the how of behavior, not the why.... The question is not, “Why does he behave a certain way if he doesn’t get a cookie?” but rather, “When he doesn’t get a cookie, how does he express his displeasure...?” The environment—and your behavior as a parent—can influence temperament and interplay with it, but it is not the cause of temperamental characteristics.
    Stanley Turecki (20th century)

    There’s no law against taking off a spaceship. It’s never been done so they haven’t gotten around to prohibiting it.
    Rip Van Ronkel, and Robert A. Heinlein (1907–1988)

    But to see her, was to love her;
    Love but her, and love for ever.
    —Robert Burns (1759–1796)