Burns' Lyrics

[Samantha Ysais]

Hello everyone!
When I began reading Burns' poetry in our anthologies, I was
admittedly a little intimidated by the unfamiliar expressions and
general sprinkling of apostrophes and abbreviations throughout. Yet,
after finding the songs online and being able to listen to the lyrics
as they were intended, it seemed much clearer and easier to
understand. What do you guys think? Did you have the same experience?

[Mark and Jeanne Mulvanerty]

Hi Samantha,

Did you ever hear someone speak with an Irish brogue or listen to Irish
music? I think that sound is the flavor of Burns' poems. Even though his
dialect is Scottish (not Irish), the two are closely linked -- think kilts!
When I read Burns' poetry I try to read it with a little brogue in mind, and
the works seem to flow and make much more sense.

See you later,
Jeanne

[Michelle Goff]

Hey Sam,
I had a really similar experience to yours. After I looked up the spoken variation of his work his poetry made more sense to me. I don't know if it was the actual pronunciation of the words that helped me or just being able to understand how it should be read but I definitely feel better acquainted now.
Michelle

[Carly Sewell]

Hi Jeanne,

I think you are definitely on to something here. In reading any
poetry from another country we have to hear it and picture in their
dialect and culture. This goes with anything as in literature, music,
and art. One cannot read Shakespeare without thinking of men in
really (what we would think of them today) strange outfits and women
in huge dresses that seem very uncomfortable. One cannot listen to
Rap without thinking about pants that hang past their butt and
generally having a somewhat ghetto attitude. I guess what I am trying
to say is that to truly have appreciation for Burns, we have to step
out of the culture of American Society we live in today. So I agree
with you 100%.

- Carly
On Jan 28, 8:22 am, "Mark and Jeanne Mulvanerty"