O For Ane An' Twenty, Tam
Scottish Poem By Robert Burns
A version of the tune "The Moudiewort" inspired Robert Burns to write this poem O For Ane An' Twenty, Tam in 1791.This is an excerpt from The Book of Scottish Song (1843) edited by Alexander Whitelaw:
"It Is said that Burns wrote this charming little song on a real incident. A young girl, possessed of some property which would be at her own disposal when she attained majority, was urged by her relations to accept an old and wealthy suitor. This she refused, as her affections were already placed on one whose youth, if not worldly circumstances, was more in accordance with her own-and the song is supposed to express her own feelings on the subject to her favoured lover, and particularly the ardent desire she entertained to reach that age when she would be mistress of herself, and able to prove the sincerity of her attachment. The song is sung to a lively old tune called "The Moudiewort.""
Related Scottish Country Dances
The MoudiewortO For Ane An' Twenty, Tam - By Robert Burns
Chorus
An' O for ane an' twenty, Tam!
And hey, sweet ane an' twenty, Tam!
I'll learn my kin a rattlin' sang,
An' I saw ane an' twenty, Tam.
They snool me sair, and haud me down,
An' gar me look like bluntie, Tam;
But three short years will soon wheel roun',
An' then comes ane an' twenty, Tam.
Chorus
A glieb o' lan', a claut o' gear,
Was left me by my auntie, Tam;
At kith or kin I need na spier,
An I saw ane an' twenty, Tam.
Chorus
They'll hae me wed a wealthy coof,
Tho' I mysel' hae plenty, Tam;
But, hear'st thou laddie! there's my loof,
I'm thine at ane an' twenty, Tam!
Chorus
O For Ane An' Twenty, Tam Poem Video
O For Ane An' Twenty, Tam Poem - Information Video
O For Ane An' Twenty, Tam, From Inglis Collection Of Printed Music, Scots Musical Museum, Volumes 3-4, Page 366
The Online Scots Dictionary Translate Scots To English.
Published in https://www.robertburns.org/works/o-for-ane-an-twenty-tam/
Published in http://www.robertburnsfederation.com/poems/translations/o_for_ane_and_twenty_tam.htm (with translation).
Dance information licensed under this Creative Commons Licence 3.0.
Text from this original Ane An' Twenty, Tam article on Wikisource.
Image copyright (cropped) https://digital.nls.uk/special-collections-of-printed-music/archive/94552332 under this Creative Commons Licence 4.0.
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