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THE RIGS O BARLEY

Tune: Corn Rigs

Robert Burns composed this version of a well-known old song about 1782.  Previous versions of Corn Rigs are recorded in published form from 1681 onwards.

Chorus:
Corn rigs, an barley rigs,
An corn rigs are bonie:
I’ll ne’er forget that happy night,
Amang the rigs wi Annie.

It was upon a Lammas night,
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.

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.

I lock’d her in my found 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 ay shall bless that happy night
Amang the rigs o barley.

I hae been blythe wi comrades dear;
I hae been merry drinking;
I hae been joyfu gath’rin gear;
I hae been happying 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 of barley.

© 2006 Trustees of the King's Own Royal Regiment Museum