A Portrait of Robert Burns Robert Burns

1791 · Song

Ae Fond Kiss, and Then We Sever


Tune ·  Rory Dall’s Port

Ae fond kiss, and then we sever;Ae fareweel, alas, for ever!Deep in heart-wrung tears I’ll pledge thee,Warring sighs and groans I’ll wage thee.Who shall say that Fortune grieves him,While the star of hope she leaves him?Me, nae cheerful twinkle lights me;Dark despair around benights me.8
I’ll ne’er blame my partial fancy,Naething could resist my Nancy:But to see her was to love her;Love but her, and love for ever.Had we never lov’d sae kindly,Had we never lov’d sae blindly,Never met—or never parted,We had ne’er been broken-hearted.16
Fare-thee-weel, thou first and fairest!Fare-thee-weel, thou best and dearest!Thine be ilka joy and treasure,Peace, Enjoyment, Love and Pleasure!Ae fond kiss, and then we sever!Ae fareweeli alas, for ever!Deep in heart-wrung tears I’ll pledge thee,Warring sighs and groans I’ll wage thee.24
Year
1791
Form
Song
Location
Ellisland
Tune
Rory Dall’s Port
Source
Project Gutenberg #1279 — Poems and Songs of Robert Burns