Corn Rigs
Scottish Song By Robert Burns
Corn Rigs (also known as The Rigs O' Barley) is a Scottish song written by Robert Burns around 1782 to be sung to the 17th century air 'Corn Rigs Are Bonie'.The tune, 'Corn Rigs' was a popular choice among early song writers, notably Allan Ramsay who used it as one of "Peggy's" songs 'My Patie is a Lover Gay' in his play, The Gentle Shepherd (1725), the chorus of which was-
"O, corn rigs, and rye rigs.
And corn rigs are bonnie.
And gin ye meet a bonnie lass,
Prin up her cockemony."
The 'Annie' referred to in the song by Robert Burns is believed to be a reference to Anne Rankine, the youngest daughter of John Rankine of Adamhill who married John Merry, the inn-keeper at New Cumnock, where Burns once stayed.
Related Scottish Country Dances
Corn RigsCorn Rigs By Robert Burns
When corn rigs are bonie,
Beneath the moon's unclouded light,
I held awa to Annie;
The time flew by, wi' tentless heed,
Till, 'tween the late and early,
Wi' sma' persuasion she agreed,
To see me thro' the barley.
Chorus
Corn rigs, an' barley rigs,
An' corn rigs are bonie:
I'll ne'er forget that happy night,
Amang the rigs wi' Annie.
The sky was blue, the wind was still,
The moon was shining clearly;
I set her down, wi' right good will,
Amang the rigs o' barley:
I ken't her heart was a' my ain;
I lov'd her most sincerely;
I kiss'd her owre and owre again,
Amang the rigs o' barley.
Chorus
I lock'd her in my fond embrace;
Her heart was beating rarely:
My blessings on that happy place,
Amang the rigs o' barley!
But by the moon and stars so bright,
That shone that hour so clearly!
She aye shall bless that happy night,
Amang the rigs o' barley.
Chorus
I hae been blythe wi' comrades dear;
I hae been merry drinking;
I hae been joyfu' gath'rin gear;
I hae been happy thinking:
But a' the pleasures e'er I saw,
Tho' three times doubl'd fairly,
That happy night was worth them a',
Amang the rigs o' barley.
Chorus
Corn Rigs Song Video
Corn Rigs Song - Information Video
Corn Rigs, From Glen Collection Of Printed Music, Scottish Songs, Volume 1, c. 1829
The Online Scots Dictionary Translate Scots To English.
Published in https://www.robertburns.org/works/30.shtml
Dance information licensed under this Creative Commons Licence 3.0.
Text from this original Corn Rigs article on Wikipedia.
Text from this original Anne Rankine article on Wikipedia.
Image copyright (cropped) https://digital.nls.uk/special-collections-of-printed-music/archive/90291808 under this Creative Commons Licence 4.0.