Ae Fond Kiss

Ae fond kiss, and then we sever;     
Ae farewell, alas, for ever!     
Deep in heart-wrung tears - I'll pledge thee,    
Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee!  

   
And who shall say - that fortune grieves him     
While the star of hope she leaves him?     
For me - no cheerful - twinkle lights me,     
Just dark despair -around- be-nights me.   

  
Had we never loved so kindly…     
And had we never loved - so blindly,     
Had never met -or never parted,     
We’d have ne'er been broken - hearted.    


So fare thee well, my first and fairest,     
Fare thee well, my best and dearest!     
For thine be every joy and treasure,     
Peace, enjoyment, love, and pleasure!   


Scotland’s national bard – Robert Burns, wrote this song in December of 1791 for Mrs. Agnes Craig McLehose, who was sailing from Scotland for Jamaica. He sent her these verses – set to the tune of “Rory Dall’s Port”. He died a few years later, at the age of 37.