Robert Burns - The Soldiers Return

This is a poem that Robert Burns wrote. My dad and I really like it, but it was kinda hard to understand with the Scots spelling and phrases in it. So, I took it, and modified it into more understandable English. (I'll add the rest of the English lyrics later)

For anyone who is interested, the link below this line is a site all about Robert Burns:
http://www.robertburns.org/completesongs.shtml
That specific link will send you to a page with the track listing and the names of all the singers of all 12 albums Landmark recording has released about Burns, all 368 of his songs. This song was taken from Volume 2, so you can scroll down to there if you want to.

The song tells about how a soldier is returning home from a war, and meeting up with his old girlfriend. He changes his voice to trick her, and she soon realizes it's him.

Below are the lyrics in both the original Scots-English and, as mentioned above, a modified version set to normal English that my father and I came up with. English lyrics will be in brackets, (like this).


When wild war's deadly blast was blown,
(When wild war's deadly blast was blown,)
And gentle Peace returning.
(And gentle Peace returning.)
Wi' mony a sweet babe fatherless,
(With many a sweet babe fatherless,)
And mony a widow mourning,
(And many a widow mourning,)
I left the lines and tented field,
(I left the lines and tented field,)
Where lang I'd been a lodger;
(Where long I'd been a lodger;)
My humble knapsack a' my wealth,
(My humble knapsack all my wealth,)
A poor and honest sodger.
(A poor and honest soldier.)


A leal light heart beat in my breast,
My hands unstain'd wi' plunder;
For fair Scotia hame again,
I cheery on did wander.
I thought upon the banks o' Coil,
I thought upon my Nancy;
I thought upon the witching smile,
That caught my youthful fancy.

At length I reach'd the bonnie glen,
Where early life I sported;
I pass'd the mill and trysting thorn,
Where Nancy aft I courted.
Wha spied I but my ain dear maid,
Down by her mother's dwelling?
And turn'd me round to hide the flood
That in my een was swelling!

Wi' alter'd voice, quoth I, Sweet Lass,
Sweet as yon hawthorn's blossom,
O! happy, happy may he be,
That's dearest to thy bosom!
My purse is light, I've far to gang,
And fain wad be thy lodger,
I've served my king and country lang:
Tak' pity on a sodger.

Sae wistfully she gazed on me,
And lovelier was than ever;
Quote she, A sodger ance I lo'ed,
Forget him shall I never.
Our humble cot and hamely fare,
Ye freely shall partake o't;
That gallant badge, the dear cockade,
Ye're welcome for the sake o't.

She gazed - she redden'd like a rose -
Syne pale as ony lily;
She sank within my arms and cried,
Art thou my ain dear Willie?
By Him, who made yon son and sky,
By whom true love's regarded,
I am the man! and thus may still
True lovers be rewarded.

The wars are o'er, and I'm come hame,
And find thee still true-hearted;
Though poor in gear, we're rich in love,
And mair we'se ne'er be parted.
Quoth she, My grandsire left me gowd
A mailin' plenish'd fairly;
Then come, my faithful sodger lad,
Thou'rt welcome to it dearly!

For gold the merchant ploughs the main,
The farmer ploughs the manor;
But glory is the sodger's prize,
The sodger's wealth is honour.
The brave poor sodger ne'er despise,
Nor count him as a stranger:
Remember he's his country's stay,
In day and hour o' danger.

Category:

Music

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[scotsexile1]

Is this Dick Gaughan singing?

[irish0dragon0warrior]

@scotsexile1 Hey, thanks for the comment :) Concerning the singer, I do not think it is. I am not 100% sure, but I am at the moment adding some info to the description box, and it lists all of the singers off of the album this version was taken from.

[robcas631]

Ian Bruce! Robbie would be proud! 

[murrmac]

@irish0dragon0warrior This is not Dick Gaughan singing, this is the inimitable IAN BRUCE, who is IMO the finest singer Scotland has ever produced.

[scotsexile1]

I look forward to learning. Gaughan has a distinctive voice and used to be a member of a very talented group called Five Hand Reel but went solo a long time ago.