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.
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