Beware o' Bonie Ann


Ye gallants bright, I rede you right, Beware o' bonie Ann; Her comely face sae fu' o' grace, Your heart she will trepan: Her een sae bright, like stars by night, Her skin sae like the swan; Sae jimply lac'd her genty waist, That sweetly ye might span. Youth, Grace, and Love attendant move, And pleasure leads the van: In a' their charms, and conquering arms, They wait on bonie Ann. The captive bands may chain the hands, But love enslaves the man: Ye gallants braw , I rede you a' , Beware o' bonie Ann!

Listen

Richard Wilson

About this work

This is a song by Robert Burns. It was written in 1789 and is read here by Richard Wilson.

More about this song

The song 'Beware o' Bonie Ann' first appeared in James Johnson's Scots Musical Museum in 1790. Burns was inspired to write this song as a compliment to Ann Masterton, the daughter of Allan Masterton (d.1799). Allan Masterton was a close acquaintance of Burns.

A composer, Masterton wrote the music for a selection of Burns's songs included in the Scots Musical Museum. Indeed, Masterton composed the air to which 'Beware o' Bonie Ann' is set. Here men are warned against being tempted and enslaved by Ann's feminine beauty.

Pauline Mackay

Themes for this song

beautyhumouryouth

Locations for this song

Mauchline

Selected for 14 October

Not only on the 13th of the month might it have been unlucky to look with longing on the baleful belle warned against in today's selection.

Donny O'Rourke

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