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:
|
Read more about this topic: Agnes Broun
Famous quotes containing the words robert burns, influence and/or burns:
“Then let us pray that come it may,—
As come it will for a’ that,—
That sense and worth, o’er a’ the earth,
May bear the gree, an’ a’ that.
For a’ that, and a’ that,
It’s comin’ yet, for a’ that—
That man to man, the warld o’er,
Shall brithers be for a’ that.”
—Robert Burns (1759–1796)
“I am not sure but I should betake myself in extremities to the liberal divinities of Greece, rather than to my country’s God. Jehovah, though with us he has acquired new attributes, is more absolute and unapproachable, but hardly more divine, than Jove. He is not so much of a gentleman, not so gracious and catholic, he does not exert so intimate and genial an influence on nature, as many a god of the Greeks.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“But to see her, was to love her;
Love but her, and love for ever.”
—Robert Burns (1759–1796)