Robert Burns - My Love Is Like A Red Red Rose
Robbie Burns - My Love Is Like A Red Red Rose
The Scots poet Robbie Burns wrote the song My Love Is Like A Red Red Rose and I know its an old-fashioned song, but I do love it. When asked who his greatest influences were in music and song writing, Bob Dylan once replied that it was Robert Burns - again, with My Love Is Like A Red Red Rose. Some might find this surprising, but Bob Dylan was always quick to spot genius.
Intro image is my own design based on a Public Domain image of Robert Burns
A beautiful romantic melody for all time
The words of this romantic song were written a long time ago by Burns and there have been many musical settings, but Bob Dylan loved the same setting as I do. This is the very traditional Scottish folk song, Low Down in the Broom, an old melody which was paired with the lyrics by William Archibald Smith in 1821. This song is very dear to Scots worldwide, as it is to anyone with an ounce of romance in the soul.
To print or download free sheet music for My Love is like a Red, Red Rose click on the Google link below.
- My Love Is Like A Red Red Rose - Beginner Guitar Melody.pdf - Google Drive
Free melody in notation, with TAB, clicking on this Google link enables you to see a pdf of the music, download it or print it out.
The classic Kenneth McKellar Version is still relevant
This is the version I remember growing up, Kenneth McKellar's beautiful tenor voice and a straight rendering with lovely orchestration that does full justice to the old Scottish words. Gorgeous... simply...
Kenneth McKellar My Love is like a Red Red Rose
O my Luve's like a red, red rose
That's newly sprung in June;
O my Luve's like the melodie
That's sweetly play'd in tune.
A dedication to Romantics everywhere...
Today, before writing this page, I completed arranging My Love Is Like A Red Red Rose for flute and classical guitar - I had meant to do this for a long time, but pressures of work and family delayed me. I love to sit down at my computer keyboard, guitar at hand, and play those thoughts that become an arrangement before scoring them. I couldn't resist getting caught up in the romance of this beautiful air, so my page is dedicated to Romantics worldwide!
Arrangement of My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose for Flute and Guitar
This is the arrangement I made for flute and guitar duet and you can either perform it as a guitar duet or a guitar and flute duet as the melody is played by guitar 1 and flute. Guitar 2 has a simple running accompaniment, both guitar parts have TAB as well as traditional notation. Other options include playing it as a trio or even singing it with the guitar accompaniment and perhaps a flute/guitar instrumental verse. It is entirely up to you. You can also visit the score page just to listen to the MP3 if you like.
Score and MP3 here
- My Love Is Like A Red Red Rose
My Love Is Like A Red Red Rose - Trio arrangement by Lisa Marie Gabriel of this Traditional Scots Melody for Burns Night
As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in luve am I:
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a' the seas gang dry:
Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear,
Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi' the sun:
I will luve thee still, my dear,
While the sands o' life shall run.
And fare thee well, my only Luve
And fare thee well, my only Luve
And fare thee well, a while!
And I will come again, my Luve,
Tho' it were ten thousand mile.
Eva Cassidy's version is intimate, modern and free
Do you love Robbie Burns poetry? Are you a romantic at heart? Thank you for calling in today!