I know that slavery is a very emotional subject and it can never be excused but the comments about Burns are missing the mark. Burns believed in a "man's a man for all that" and I think it is to his credit that he was able comment through the words in this song about how slavery was one of the biggest tragedies that ever happened.
If you think Robert Burns was a slave, you are a fucking idiot.
Apprently his family was poor at times -- but he was raised by his parents. Do you fucking not know that virtually no slaves were raised by their parents you fucking retard?
Most slaves had no fucking idea who their father was -- and it was ILLEGAL to tell them. Did you know that retard? Did you know ofthen the father was the owner of the mother?
You don't know fucking shit about about slavery dumb ass.
A person who is held in bondage to another; one who is wholly subject to the will of another; one who is held as a chattel; one who has no freedom of action, but whose person and services are wholly under the control of another.
One who has lost the power of resistance; one who surrenders himself to any power whatever; as, a slave to passion, to lust, to strong drink, to ambition.
Confederate Founding Fathers -- Davis and Stephens --both said quite emphatically that slavery was the FOUNDATION -- the cornerstone -- of their nation.
Stephens was actually quite proud that CSA was "just the first" nation to "be founded on the great moral truth" that God ordained the white men to "totally subjugate and enslave" the black race.
He and Davis both predicted the "entire civilized world" would follow their lead of enslaving inferior races.
It was the NEW ENGLAND states that owned & crewed the "blackbirders" who flooded the US with slaves. Those same Yankees invented the monstrous institutionalized horror called the MIDDLE PASSAGE.
Anyone know what Southerners (as a group) ever did to slaves that even compared with the orgy of brutality, rape & murder perpetrated on helpless blacks during the middle passage?
Brit patrol boat too near - whole black cargo overboard, tied to anchor chain!
@Pillboxesghost Worth noting that "Virginia" was, in Burns' day, often used by Britons as a poetic label for British North America, much like as he used "Caledonia" to refer to his homeland. It is not intended to refer specifically to the Colony of Virginia. It was the original English colony, and, as "America" was still not understood to hold any particular reference to what would later become the United Sates, it sort of stuck.
I have to correct myself. I inadvertantly substituted the word "sometimes" with the word "often."
Douglass went on to say that slavery is when someone is owned 'body' and 'soul' by another human being.
We whites living now were not on hand when slavery existed, and a few brave whites living then are not often credited for the ways they tried to fight against slavery. Still, we need to be very careful not to try and own something that is not ours - in this case, a heritage.
....in this sense many hard working people can be slaves. I worked in factory and often felt trapped by the only thing that I had - that job in a factory - under the control of those that controlled and managed me. Education was the only way out for me. Many did not get that opportunity.
Freed slaves at the end of the Civil War were often trapped by the experience of slavery - as that was the only thing they knew. They had to learn how to be free.
I know the guy who produced(?) the recording of this song from the Complete Works of Robert Burns, Fred Freeman. Nice guy and Burns expert. My mother was one of the singers in the series (not this song). This song was always one of my favourites and it's a great pleasure to find it on Youtube, many thanks.
It is 31 minutes from the day that will herald Obama as President of the United States - and all I hear is - black black, black. This is not about colour - it is about understanding. Wonder what Robert Burns would think of Obama being President? Not about slavery or colour - but simplly a man and eqaulity. A new future and a new perspective!
I know that slavery is a very emotional subject and it can never be excused but the comments about Burns are missing the mark. Burns believed in a "man's a man for all that" and I think it is to his credit that he was able comment through the words in this song about how slavery was one of the biggest tragedies that ever happened.
Honestmanayr 4 months ago
Is that Christine Kydd singing?
TheGuerrillaPoet 8 months ago
If you think Robert Burns was a slave, you are a fucking idiot.
Apprently his family was poor at times -- but he was raised by his parents. Do you fucking not know that virtually no slaves were raised by their parents you fucking retard?
Most slaves had no fucking idea who their father was -- and it was ILLEGAL to tell them. Did you know that retard? Did you know ofthen the father was the owner of the mother?
You don't know fucking shit about about slavery dumb ass.
12FlyMe 2 years ago
Many can write in a balanced manner.
My blood relative led the first African- American regiment in the Civil War and fought against slavery.
We are all slaves in many ways.
Was he an idiot?
My family were poor farmers and slaves of the land in Scotland. Robert Burns meant a lot to those same farmers across Scotland. Was he an idiot?
If so why is he held in high regrad across the World from the US to Russia and beyond - cause he represnts common men!
negba 2 years ago
I dont give a cow's shit what your parents did in Scottland you dumb fuck. Robert Burns wasn't a slave retard/
Got that you dumb fuck - he wasn't a slave.
12FlyMe 2 years ago
Slave
A person who is held in bondage to another; one who is wholly subject to the will of another; one who is held as a chattel; one who has no freedom of action, but whose person and services are wholly under the control of another.
negba 2 years ago
One who has lost the power of resistance; one who surrenders himself to any power whatever; as, a slave to passion, to lust, to strong drink, to ambition.
A drudge; one who labors like a slave.
An abject person; a wretch.
To drudge; to toil; to labor as a slave.
negba 2 years ago
Confederate Founding Fathers -- Davis and Stephens --both said quite emphatically that slavery was the FOUNDATION -- the cornerstone -- of their nation.
Stephens was actually quite proud that CSA was "just the first" nation to "be founded on the great moral truth" that God ordained the white men to "totally subjugate and enslave" the black race.
He and Davis both predicted the "entire civilized world" would follow their lead of enslaving inferior races.
SouthernFriedHoney 2 years ago
Interesting that VA is mentioned!
It was the NEW ENGLAND states that owned & crewed the "blackbirders" who flooded the US with slaves. Those same Yankees invented the monstrous institutionalized horror called the MIDDLE PASSAGE.
Anyone know what Southerners (as a group) ever did to slaves that even compared with the orgy of brutality, rape & murder perpetrated on helpless blacks during the middle passage?
Brit patrol boat too near - whole black cargo overboard, tied to anchor chain!
Pillboxesghost 2 years ago
@Pillboxesghost Worth noting that "Virginia" was, in Burns' day, often used by Britons as a poetic label for British North America, much like as he used "Caledonia" to refer to his homeland. It is not intended to refer specifically to the Colony of Virginia. It was the original English colony, and, as "America" was still not understood to hold any particular reference to what would later become the United Sates, it sort of stuck.
Traitorfish 1 year ago
@Traitorfish Sorry, that should be "Commonwealth", not "Colony", given when the song was written. I'm getting my dates muddled.
Traitorfish 1 year ago
I have to correct myself. I inadvertantly substituted the word "sometimes" with the word "often."
Douglass went on to say that slavery is when someone is owned 'body' and 'soul' by another human being.
We whites living now were not on hand when slavery existed, and a few brave whites living then are not often credited for the ways they tried to fight against slavery. Still, we need to be very careful not to try and own something that is not ours - in this case, a heritage.
gracefulfish 2 years ago
slave (slāv)
n.
One bound in servitude as the property of a person or household.
One who is abjectly subservient to a specified person or influence: "I was still the slave of education and prejudice" (Edward Gibbon).
One who works extremely hard.
A machine or component controlled by another machine or component.
intr.v. slaved, slav·ing, slaves
To work very hard or doggedly; toil.
negba 2 years ago
....in this sense many hard working people can be slaves. I worked in factory and often felt trapped by the only thing that I had - that job in a factory - under the control of those that controlled and managed me. Education was the only way out for me. Many did not get that opportunity.
Freed slaves at the end of the Civil War were often trapped by the experience of slavery - as that was the only thing they knew. They had to learn how to be free.
negba 2 years ago
In what way was Burns a slave?
bigchappy1970 2 years ago
...like the way most of us that can be at times!
negba 2 years ago
"I think the term 'slavery' is often abused by being identified with that which it is NOT." Frederick Douglas.
gracefulfish 2 years ago 2
Beautiful version - thanks for posting.
monkeyboy648 2 years ago
thanks!
negba 2 years ago
did Burns ever live during the repression and UK slave trade in Irish women ?
outshore 2 years ago
don't thinks so - if he was he would have been against it!
negba 2 years ago
Comment removed
monkeyboy648 2 years ago
who is?
negba 2 years ago
Sorry - I was distracted.
monkeyboy648 2 years ago
I know the guy who produced(?) the recording of this song from the Complete Works of Robert Burns, Fred Freeman. Nice guy and Burns expert. My mother was one of the singers in the series (not this song). This song was always one of my favourites and it's a great pleasure to find it on Youtube, many thanks.
rmephh 2 years ago
Burns was a slave???
kikimcghee 3 years ago
...he felt as a slave!
negba 3 years ago
It is 31 minutes from the day that will herald Obama as President of the United States - and all I hear is - black black, black. This is not about colour - it is about understanding. Wonder what Robert Burns would think of Obama being President? Not about slavery or colour - but simplly a man and eqaulity. A new future and a new perspective!
negba 3 years ago
Have you heard Jean Redpath's version?
vivianviv 3 years ago
No. but I'd love to hear it. Is there a link to her version?
weegiewarbler 3 years ago
Nice folk music. Who's the singer? Sounds like Joan Baez.
rooferkim 3 years ago
The Slave's Lament - Sung by Christine Kydd
negba 3 years ago
This recording is by Scottish band 'Chantan' and it's from their album 'Primary Colours'.
monkeyboy648 2 years ago
This recording is actually Christine Kydd singing on Volume 1 of Linn Records "The Complete songs of Robert Burns"
CaTheYowes 2 years ago
great stuff
tamhamilton 4 years ago
great to find stuff like this on youtube, thanks !
triumphkirsten 4 years ago
thanks!
negba 4 years ago
thanks
negba 4 years ago
drek.....
superfirecracker 4 years ago
great song and a beautiful video. Thank you ;)
HelenaBytnar 4 years ago 2
Thanks.
negba 4 years ago