Happy Birthday, Rab

Robert Burns was born today in 1759, two miles (3 km) south of Ayr, in Alloway, South Ayrshire, Scotland.

The Highland Widow's Lament

Oh I am come to the low Countrie,
Ochon, Ochon, Ochrie!
Without a penny in my purse. To buy a meal to me.

It was na sae in the Highland hills,
Ochon, Ochon, Ochrie!
Nae woman in the Country wide Sae happy was as me.

For then I had a score o' kye
Ochon, Ochon, Ochrie!
Feeding on you nill sae high, And giving milk to me.

And there I had three score o' yowes,
Ochon, Ochon, Ochrie!
Skipping on ou bonie knowes, And casting woo to me.

I was the happiest of a' the Clan,
Sair, sair may I repine;
For Donald was the brawest man, And Donald he was mine.

Till Charlie Stewart cam at last,
Sae far to set us free;
My Donald's arm was wanted then, For Scotland and for me.

Their waefu' fate what need I tell,
Right to wrang did yield;
My Donald and his Country fell Upon Culloden field.

Ochon! O Donald, oh!
Ochon, Ochon, Ochrie!
Nae woman in the warld wide, Sae wretched now as me.