In Without the Thunder, Adam Donovan is looking for a song to sing for a wedding. He’s having a bit of difficulty finding an Irish ballad that doesn’t end in the lover either leaving or dying. And, of course, he wants a song he hasn’t dedicated to anyone before. His brother Brian saves the day by mentioning Robert Burns, and although the song is Scottish in origin and has the same problem the Irish ballads have, Adam makes it work by eliminating the second refrain and repeating the first.

A lovely song you can sing or listen along to Paul Byrom of Celtic Thunder here.

MY LUVE’S LIKE A RED, RED ROSE

– Robert Burns (1759-1796)

Verse 1
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.

Refrain 1
As fair art thou, my bonie lass,
So deep in luve am I;
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a’ the seas gang dry.

Verse 2
Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi’ the sun;
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
While the sands o’ life shall run.

Refrain 2
And fare-thee-weel, my only Luve!
And fare-thee-weel, awhile!
And I will come again, my Luve,
Tho’ ’twere ten thousand mile!