Have a good Burns night Neil. Fond memories here, having had the pleasure of meeting Andy a number of times when on tour, celebrating his birthday (and Gerry O Beirne's) with a wee cake and candle in a pub or restaurant after the gig. Hope you are keeping well.
If there has been a more beautiful and evocative love song ever written I have yet to hear it. Andy Stewart does a fabulous job with Burns timeless masterpiece.
This was sung (unaccompanied) at the funeral of my husband's cousin in Glasgow - absolutely beautiful, and so very touching. I didn't know it before...
Andy M. Stewart of Silly Wizard fame. The problem with love is that the spontaneity and romantic emotions associated with discovering and falling in love with another person are hard to maintain in their freshness and newness. It is really sad that it cannot go on at least much longer. Sometimes people claim that it does, I suppose they have an unerring gratitude for the gift of love. Like a song that one finds beautiful no matter how often one hears it. It has a different feel from the versions, which are equally good, by women singers like Robyn Stapleton or Karen Matheson, among many others. The beautiful accompaniment is especially moving.
What I especially like about Andy M. Stewart is the rich quality of his voice. He gives the lines a sort of sad, introspective quality that I think matches the song very well. The accompaniment backs that up, and it is not over accompanied, there is a certain holding back, the singer and accompanists are is not trying for the greatest emotional impact. There is a certain restrained dignity in the rendition which I think suits the song very well.
How good is this? Miles better than any of the Celtic Moments tribe. Thanks for posting. I'd completely forgotten the artistry of Andy Stewart and his sensationally beautiful baritone.
Yes, it doesn't sound quite like the old Andy S. But it is lovely, and very clear pronunciation so you can appreciate the poetry. The original Andy S must have recorded this, surely?
Andy was my first cousin on my mother's side. We grew up in the same street together. I was with him the day before he died. Miss him terribly at times.
Ae fond kiss, and then we sever; Ae fareweel, and then forever! Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee, Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee. Who shall say that Fortune grieves him, While the star of hope she leaves him? Me, nae cheerfu' twinkle lights me; Dark despair around benights me. I'll ne'er blame my partial fancy, Naething could resist my Nancy; But to see her was to love her; Love but her, and love forever. Had we never lov'd sae kindly, Had we never lov'd sae blindly, Never met-or never parted- We had ne'er been broken-hearted. Fare thee weel, thou first and fairest! Fare thee weel, thou best and dearest! Thine be ilka joy and treasure, Peace. enjoyment, love, and pleasure! Ae fond kiss, and then we sever; Ae fareweel, alas, forever! Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee, Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee! A wonderful song. The text seems well a bit romantically exaggerated, but the performance by Andy Stewart makes it work with a mixture of dignity and regret, a graceful slow melody which understates the text. This is one of my favorites by Robert Burns and also Andy Stewart, along with some other versions like Robyn Stapleton's and others as well.
