022 By Allan Stream
Tune: Allan Water
1．
By Allan stream I chanc'd to rove,
While Phebus sank beyond Benledi;
The winds were whispering thro' the grove,
The yellow corn was waving ready;
I listen'd to a lover's sang,
An' thought on youthfu' pleasures monie,
And ay the wild-wood echoes rang: —
‘O, my lo'e Annie's very bonie!’
2．
‘O, happy be the woodbine bower,
Nae nightly bogle make it eerie!
Nor ever sorrow stain the hour,
The place and time I met my dearie!
Her head upon my throbbing breast,
She, sinking, said: —‘I'm thine for ever!’
While monie a kiss the seal imprest—
The sacred vow we ne'er should sever.’
3．
The haunt o' Spring's the primrose-brae.
The Summer joys the flocks to follow.
How cheery thro' her short'ning day
Is Autumn in her weeds o' yellow!
But can they melt the glowing heart,
Or chain the soul in speechless pleasure,
Or thro' each nerve the rapture dart,
Like meeting her, our bosom's treasure?
Notes
Title By Allan Stream: By Allan River
This poem was written by Burns to replace the lyric to the original Tune “Allan Water”. This poem was first printed in 1799.
Stanza 1
Line 1 chanc'd to rove: happened to wander
Line 2 Phebus: Phoebus, the sun; Benledi: name of a mountain, to the north of Stirling near Strathallan
Line 3 thro': through
Line 5 listen'd: listened; sang: song
Line 6 An': and; youthfu': youthful; monie: many
Line 7 ay: always
Line 8 lo'e: love
Stanza 2
Line 1 woodbine bower: shed made of woodbine
Line 2 Nae: no; bogle: demon; eerie: fearful, odd
Line 4 dearie: darling
Line 6 thine: yours
Line 7 imprest: impressed
Line 8 ne'er: never
Stanza 3
Line 1 haunt: place often visited; primrose-brae: slopes where primroses grow
Line 3 cheery: cheerful; thro': through
Line 4 weeds o' yellow: grass of yellow colour