THE Scottish singer Jean Redpath, who has died in the USA at the age of 77, was a renowned interpreter of Burns songs, often singing unaccompanied but also collaborating with the Californian composer Serge Hovey on instrumental settings of the poet's original melodies.

I had the pleasure of interviewing her publicly about Burns at the University of South Carolina in 2009 as part of a celebratory Burns conference.

She broke off talking at one point to sing a flawless version of the little love song below (the words can be adapted for male voice).

LADDIE LIE NEAR ME

Lang hae we parted been,

Laddie my dearie;

Now we are met again,

Laddie lie near me.

Chorus:

Near me, near me,

Laddie lie near me;

Lang hast thou lien thy lane,

Laddie lie near me.

A' that I hae endur'd,

Laddie, my dearie,

Here in thy arms is cur'd,

Laddie lie near me.

Chorus:

Near me, near me,

Laddie, lie near me;

Lang hast thou lien thy lane,

Laddie lie near me.