My love is like a red red rose

[zytigon]

My love is more stunning than a picket fence that I newly built in June,

To fail to praise her beauty more was an offence that left our love a ruin,

I was too slow to understand why she did so often describe it stunning,

The hint I failed to comprehend is why my love she now is shunning,

I said that Juliet could soon have found another Romeo so why the tragedy,

But now that she is gone I realise you should do all to keep your treasure in your play,

[boysnips]

I thought I'd heard all the great songs until last Burns night, then I heard this wonderful song and realised why we have Burns night

[BigjockGnu]

@boysnips If you have an Android tab or ipad there is a great Burns app free to download. Every poem written by Burns -- in the hundreds. Not bad for a man who died at 37 and fathered 12children.

Kenneth Mackellar - magnificent.

[andrewlewis963]

superb

[Bobby88441]

 A wonderful singer was Kenneth Mckeller.

[GBDeadnation]

Stunning.

[levismother]

This is absolutely lovely, easy on the ear. My late Mother shared her birthday with Kenneth McKellar, 23rd June, 1927, and she could sing too! She used to love Kenneth and we had all his records at hom in the 60s. She used to sing My Ain Folk and Kenneth does a lovely version of this, and it brings tears to my eyes to hear it. RIP Mum and Mr. McKellar

[123Boudicca]

Check out Kenneth McKeller's "My grannie's Hielane' Hame .... it always brought a tear to my eye when I was young.

[Delia1950]

Gorgeous !!!!!!!!!

[MrUNITED18]

A majestic song, but as a severely biased irishman, i've got to make a case for the version sung by The Fureys, it's also magnificent.

[Delia1950]

@MrUNITED18 Oh come on that was so lovely and all these songs are being lost with no ulterior motive ?

[1Toryglen]

There will never be another Kenneth McKellar nor a voice like his. Miss him, and always will. Fare thee weel ....You will laways be with us. R.I.P.

Hazel MacKenzie

[TheValdoro]

what this wonderful man means to us all here in scotland,his wonderful voice and greater spirit and soul has punctuated our lives seemingly ,for ever.He has been an inspiration to our lives,and if ever a statue needs to be erected in our country to personify it, and us, it should be to him.

[poetLORRYate]

The only person who can do justice to Burn's lyrics. No offence to others.

[14vermuth26]

A man in Edinburgh has told me about this song and a story about the writer, Robert Burns.. i've never saw this guy before.. and i think i'll never see him again... but he has given me a great great gift with this song!.. <3.. Thank you man!

[terrywboyd]

Vale Kenneth! We used this very recording at my Dad's (also Kenneth, also 82) funeral in January 2010. We saw Dad off on Burns Day. He introduced me to K McK when I was tiny and I've loved that voice all my life. So many ties that bind, so many dear memories. Thanks Kenneth (both of you).

[SupernaturalBassoon]

This is so beautiful. <333

[Speechless501]

RIP both Ken McKellar and Eva Cassidy. I miss them both.

[jazzyvolleyball1]

We had ti sung this in all county jh chorus

[Silsbee93]

This was a classic for the choir of Ms. kilcrease's also

[stolly57]

My father was a merchant seaman, away from home for quite long periods, but when he was home, he and my mother would have a music binge on a Sunday morning, they would dance around the living room floor, and I can still picture them now, my dad, singing this to my mum, just once more, I wish I was back there for real. Still it is lovely to have such memories, and pieces like this will always keep those memories warm.

[issaclover56]

I just sang this 4 hours ago

[1Toryglen]

A beautiful song. A beautiful voice. Scotland lost her great tenor.....

[TIFFENALAN]

This song and video clip now appears on the online memorial to Miss Helen McCourt. Visit the website GoneTooSoon and search for Helen McCourt.

[mary37763]

does anybody know Kenneth Mcakaellar's daughter

[scotsmaninusa]

@mary37763 well first you have to be able to spell his name correctly 'Kenneth McKellar' , google it, then you shall be answered.

[hoof4u]

I have to share this with you.. I also heard this on the Ken Bruce show whilst waiting at Portsmouth ferry port with my beloved mercedes sprinter which i had sold to a guy on ebay, I have covered thousands of miles in her and sat listening to this wonderfull song on the radio whilst waiting for the new owner to arrive!!! You all know where this is going, yes the van has come back home with me, Tears streaming down my face i called off the sale, so beautiful, (True story) Thanks Ken,

[Belindaj555]

A fantastic song from a fabulous singer, you can hear every word clearly.

[gillwilkinsongw]

Ken Bruce played this on his Radio 2 programme this morning (Robbie Burn's birthday), and although it was our much longed-for coffee break, I just had to stop and listen to it in full. It was FAB! and made me wish that I was Scottish.

[LittleDragon2000]

Not the tune that Burns had in mind, apparently.

But this is the perfect love song set to the perfect tune - and sung perfectly.

The best of Britain's poets sung by the best of Britain.

[TIFFENALAN]

Beautiful....... RIP Mr McKellar and thank you for your glorious songs such as this one!

[1Toryglen]

Beautiful voice, beautiful person,beautiful song.......I miss him, I hear this and it brings a tear tae me ee'.....There will ne'er be another voice like yours.

Hazel MacKenze

[DROOCHITDUG1]

Kenneth was a great singer and a gentleman he lived in Lenzie rip Kenneth

[TheDarkcountess24]

Absolutly beautiful!!!!!!! : D

[bgcw10]

in region choir this year, our choir did this but it was way different: katy,tx woodcreek junior high

[poetLORRYate]

What a fablulous tone NONE BETTER. My late Mother would have revelled in his company. Especially to do a duet. Type nancy mclean in YOU TUBE to hear what i mean. Eldest son David.

[Alainybebby]

we sing this in choir.

anyone heard of Andrea Klouse ?

yeah , shes famous for composing,

and shes my choir teacher (:

[FreyaBlack]

this is definitely the best version...ˇ_ˇ

[alexander1308]

for my losed love

[lemonmeerkat]

kenneth at his best - beautiful

[huwwilson651]

LOL!@Some of the comments. It's just a song. All these "Goodbye!" to people nobody knows is very amusing. RIP Hank! My guinea pig. LOL!!

[blckbooty]

@huwwilson651: "no man is an island/entire of itself... any man's death diminishes me/because I am involved in mankind/and therefore never send to know for/whom the bell/tolls; it tolls for thee."

[lyubichi]

@huwwilson651 Those who post the goodbyes know the people, huw, and that's what's important. You might think very differently indeed one day. Those who stand the hardest often fall the hardest.

[Bobby88441]

Kenneth McKeller  was a wonderful singer that scotland had in his time. Sadly gone but not his voice

[femenist17]

is this the guy from the Caledonia...those three tenors?? It sounds like him.

[MrTromso1]

RIP Kenneth.

[saltburner2]

McKellar is, as always, a delight: a perfectly placed lyric tenor voice put entirely at the service of the music. But I do feel the rather soupy arrangement detracts from the integrity of his singing. He will be greatly missed by his many admirers.

[succar39]

maravilloso fue y es este gran cantanteel tenor kenneth mc kellar , desde peru un saludo

[maxpatterson25]

This is a beautiful version, but in my memory is an earlier black & white tv version when he was obviously younger & if full fabulous voice. Dressed in full Scottish dress, kilt, dirk in sock etc. He turned me on at a young age, to "real" singing. I feel privilaged to have heard him

[Topmember]

My siblings and I enjoyed Kenneth's recording of "Angels guard thee" ( the berceuse from Benjamin Goddard's opèra "Jocelyn" ) for the memorial service we held in memory of our dear mother who passed away only two weeks prior to April 9 this year. She swooned whenever his name was mentioned or his voice was heard.

[shrinkpachyderm]

sadly he has just passed away.a great singer

[blckbooty]

this is annoying me - i cant find this song to download anywhere. if anyone has this song on itunes can you contact me??

[blckbooty]

@blckbooty nobody has it on itunes? this makes me sad.

[Quidditch54321]

Beautiful. His obituary was on radio 4 this evening and they played this song.

[YerMhaw]

R.I.P. Kenneth

[poetLORRYate]

I can invisage Burns' giving Kenneth a pat on the back. Must be a Scot who sings this song. HE WAS THE BEST. Did Burns' himself sing to this level, I wonder.

[robinaxeman]

Kenneth died 10th April 2010,Lake Tahoe,USA at his daughter's home.He was a great man!

[clowninamicrowave]

Very sad to hear of his passing, rather annoyed that there has been no mention on the BBC TV Entertainment news page, especially as they have seen fit to mention the death of a former 'girlfriend' of Cliff Richard. (Why??).

[Gimmer3]

Good Bye, your voice still raises the hairs on the back of my neck! Rest in Peace.

[Marchawc]

R.I.P. Kenneth McKellar (23 June 1927 9 April 2010), a great singer and legendary Scot. No one could sing Burns' songs like this man.

[BRITBOY63]

Rest In Peace.

God Bless you Sir.

[tronkel1]

I'm sad today to hear about the death of Kenneth McKellar.

I once met him at the studios of Scottish Television in Glasgow where I was tuning a piano. He was in the same studio and sang a few of the notes I was tuning just for fun!

Pleasure to have met him.

[Jennings03]

Simply the greatest of love songs written and sung by great Scotsmen and appreciated by another!

[GirvanLighthouse77]

I remember seeing you in the Falkirk town hall many moons ago with valerie dunbar and the likes !! RIP Ken - wha's like us, damn few !!!!

[Jasenspeed401]

his Voice is absolute magic, but the music doesn't quite capture the true spirit of the melody. I hear the glens and the lochs in Kenneth's voice but I'm hearing a BBC studio backing band... A better version that he does can be found on the Bicentenary record that came out in 1959. I'll try and post it soon. I already have the best version of The Silver Tassie on Youtube (as music, not video). ;-)

[clowninamicrowave]

A great family favourite from my late parents' record collection,which was played at my mum's funeral. Always makes me cry, beautifully sung.

[donnieinglasgow]

if you listen to this song mc kellar sings , really listen to it .And if it does not touch your heart...you are made of ice .

[S5ate99lit3e]

Omg, aren't British people great?? Ya gotta love British people!! xD

[hotqueekboi]

This irritates me - because I sang a choir version - and I sang bass, so I don't recognise this melody in the song at all.

But a good version nonetheless.

[ultimatejoeshmo]

@hotqueekboi Ya gotta know the melody!

[987654614]

I get to sing this at my school :)

[Nettie253]

When Kenneth sings this song it is like Rabbie is singing it himself.

[Nettie253]

I was brought up in Edinburgh I love Rabbie Burns and I remember listening to this beautiful album as a bairn..He is one of the most beautiful tenorsSo proud to be Scottish.ALBA GUBRATH.

[WeeWishieWashie]

If I die, play this at my funeral. It's the LAST thing I want to hear before I go to the afterworld. And this will take me for all eternity.

It's perfect, gorgeous, romantic, Celtic, fantasy, beguiling, fabuloustic and made of Scottish Faerie Tales.

[Nettie253]

I agree

[12misscute1]

i love this song

[SalsaShakers]

i agree with the 'panel' as you cannot improve on PERFECTION.

This song/poem is sung PERFECTLY.

R.I.P. Kenneth McKellar :)

[lorgain2]

I hope it`s not R.I.P. yet, the last I heard Ken was still in the land of the living. As you say perfection.

[diamondbhoy]

@lorgain2 : sorry to say but Kenneth Died today :-(

[kinneucher]

@lorgain2 Kenneth McKellar died at the age of 82, at his daughter's home near Lake Tahoe in the United States, on 9 April 2010. VERY sadly missed.

[kinneucher]

@lorgain2  Sadly, Kenneth McKellar died at the age of 82, at his daughter's home near Lake Tahoe in the United States, on 9 April 2010.

[mary37763]

@lorgain2 do you know his daughters name please

[BaritoneCan1]

@SalsaShakers The one, the only, the incomparable Kenneth McKellar! I am not Scottish myself, but I'm sure that all Scots cry at this one. I thank the Lord for Kenneth's glorious voice which is now singing with the saints. RIP, dear friend!

[jockmcmful]

As a wee boy growing up in Strachur some of my earliest memories were of my father listening speelbound to Kenneth McKellar on our crackly radio. I had no appreciation of course but now find myself listening spellbound 55 years later. Even had the privilege of meeting Kenneth in Invercargill NZ around 1991 Woody

[lorgain2]

We tuned in every Tuesday evening in the early 1950s to Radio Scotland, across here in Ireland McKellar`s voice came in loud and clear, an under-rated tenor. Thanks for the comment Jock.

[NateAlex10]

@lorgain2 He died April 9, 2010

[Kirstyyy5393]

made of honour ftw!

[shaneathan777]

I once had to sing the solo part of this song in a large community choir it is an amazing song and so humbling to the soul. Beautiful words and melody when sung in it's original score.

Thanks for posting this...

[lorgain2]

Thanks for the comment Shane.

[flawbabe]

a brilliant song thanks xx

[lorgain2]

Thank you.

[redneckracehorse01]

we sing this every year in chorus! love it

[lorgain2]

A lovely song.

[syira21belle]

i just study this song.;)

[Sh5027]

This is the song Captain Hammond sings to Lady Marjorie in "Upstairs Downstairs" =)

[sax2003]

YES!!! i love that scene!....

[huwwilson651]

Is that what made you look it up? I have to say I did exactly the same thing. I love upstairs, downstairs and I thought they might have romanticized the song for the programme but they actually didn't and it's the same song. Perfect!!

[lorgain2]

Ypu cannot improve on perfection.

[backflipboy27]

eva cassidy's version is perfection

[lorgain2]

Fair play to Eva, oul Kenneths is not bad either.

[Sh5027]

I also love Upstairs Downstairs, and yes, that was why i did look it up =)

[sax2003]

yes actually! that sene was sooooo nice! it stuck in my mind for some time... also i would like the song "the butcher boy" the way emily sings it in the episode she kills herself!.... thats programme was brilliant!... yeh i sound like an old man but am just 22 hahaahah.....

[OmgMitchell]

used to sing it in music lessons in Kirkcaldy Sec and St Margaret's High School Aberlour. all the girls used to get emo even in them days. never appreciated the beauty of it till now. lol

[lorgain2]

Agreat song and a great singer, thanks for the comment.

[lyricalmc14]

Man I've got to sing this song for higher :(

Its really difficult :L

[lorgain2]

It sure is , stick with it Lyriccalmc.

[lorgain2]

Thank you franco.

[francovance1]

In my opinion the definitive version.

[shannonm256]

that song makes me proud to be scottish =] its so sad =[

[lorgain2]

I am Irish and the song and the singer can be enjoyed by all.

[RuthAJ09]

beautiful song. but what is this song actually about specifically?

[lorgain2]

Ruth the song tells it all.

[lorgain2]

Wipe your tears cutie and enjoy the singer and the song.

[Scottishcutie82]

This song is sad I'm from Scotland and knowing the meaning of the song makes me want to cry : '(

[Rikki0]

Well, I came here for the same reason Susan did. I saw the comment on the video with Andy M. Stewart so had to see. I will also make no comparison. They are both great. I will just say this. If I were sitting on a couch before a fireplace with a girl I loved, I would put this version on. If I were alone and just wanted to enjoy this beautiful song by myself, I would put on Stewart's. As Susan said, they both deserve their due.

[lorgain2]

Fair enough Rikki.

[lorgain2]

Fair play to you Susan, you are entitled to your opinion, as you can see I never compared either version.

[SlightlySusan]

I came to this rendition because someone said that the McCellar as a classical singer does justice to Robbie Burns that Andy M Stewart can not. Both men do lovely, lovely versions of this poetic song but these men come from different vocal backgrounds and have different ranges. Stewart is the untrained tenor-baritone and McKellar the operatic tenor. Give each of these great singers his due.

[misspaddylee]

So lovely. Sigh.

[lorgain2]

thanks bondie.

[bondie45]

Wonderful thks very much 4 the upload

[lorgain2]

You are right a fine singer of Handel, His singing of"Where ere you walk" is class. thanks for the comment guetary.

[guetary]

Sir, you have posted some fine tracks. I thank you - McKellar, now over 80, was a fine, fine singer. A great exponent of Scottish song, as well as Handel. Sir Adrian Boult called him the finest Handelian tenor of the 20th century. Grand singing

[lorgain2]

Thanks for the comment,myster.

[mysteriosice]

Lovely

This is my great nans favourite song

I was playing it for her tonight goodness knows how many times

[lorgain2]

Thank you Rikki0, plenty of Moores in Ireland, well scattered over the oul sod.

[Rikki0]

Thank you lorgain2. This is a beautiful rendition. I am American and we have had some good poets. But nothing to compare to Rabbie Burns or Thomas Moore. My last name is Moore and I am of Irish decent. I would love to find someday that I am descended from Thomas. Thank you for this beautiful video.

[lorgain2]

Thank you oriola.

[101fanofTwilight]

this is a high school honor choir song and my middle shool choir rocked at it and we are the best middle shool choir there is and we only sing high school songs and everyone is very impressed with the work we do!

[lorgain2]

The music of your father was written from the heart, to-days drivel is inspired by drugs,

[grumpywine]

This is the music of my father that I couldn't abide forty years ago but now brings a tear to my eye. Just beautiful and timeless !  Thank you Robert Burns. Thank you Kenneth MCkellar.

[lorgain2]

athlete1983, Some hae meat and canna eat, and some wad eat that want it, But we hae meat, and we can eat, Sat let the Lord be thankit.

Good luck on the 25th the great poet Robert Burns 250th anniversary.

[athlete1983]

There was Moses There was the flood Then there was the Bard January 25th if you are Scots you'll have a wee dram and if your not Scots you'll join us

[lorgain2]

VoceVersatile, Sorry I did not see that morons comment, thanks for informing me, that is to be expected on most Sites, morons abound.

[VoceVersatile]

Dia dhuit, a Oliver as Lorgain. Bhi mo mhathair as gContae Cabhan. My wife and I were with cousins in Cavan and Galway this summer. Relevant photos are with my version of 'Last Rose of Summer' on VoceVersatile. Could you remove that eedjut's reply to my earlier comment? Slan - David.

[lorgain2]

Thanks for the comment VoceVersatile.

[VoceVersatile]

This is a beautiful arrangement with exceptionally fine singing. Kenneth was a role model for me as a young tenor in the sixties. My unaccompanied version is on VoceVersatile - a grateful tribute to this distinguished Scotsman. His 'Ev'ry Valley' is also exemplary for all tenors.

[loosewrists1]

surely a song & performance to love "till all the seas gang dry" ...

[JohnnyDNo1Fan]

That was truly beautiful.  It made me cry.

[rwlane]

and me.

[Dhbrydon]

Kenneth was great But where are the recordings of Robert Wilson who was a great Scottish Tenor?

[UISTMAN59]

Great song and a great singer who is not as highly regarded in Scotland as he ought to be. *****

[lorgain2]

David I am very much aware that this is a much later recording, the voice while still good has lost a lot, compare this with Afton Water, and you will notice the difference in the voice, a much earlier recording.

I have that earlier recording, I will try AND FINF IT.

[davidcassidyjnr]

First of all, thanks for posting. Very nice. But are you aware this is not his original recording of it? I tried sending you a copy of the original from the Robbie Burns album. Not sure it got through...

[lorgain2]

Thanks moominpic.

[moominpic]

Wonderful. The first concert I ever went to was a Kenneth McKellar one.

[machree01]

written by Robert Burns, a lovely version sung by Kenneth, thanks for posting it.

[lorgain2]

As requested by David Cassidy.