Banks of Cree



Here is the glen, and here the bower,
All underneath the birchen shade;
The village-bell has told the hour,
O what can stay my lovely maid.

'Tis not Maria's whispering call;
'Tis but the balmy breathing gale,
Mixt with some warbler's dying fall
The dewy star of eve to hail.

It is Maria's voice I hear;
So calls the woodlark in the grove
His little, faithful Mate to chear,
At once 'tis music - and 'tis love.

And art thou come! and art thou true!
O welcome dear to love and me!
And let us all our vows renew
Along the flowery banks of Cree.

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About this work

This is a poem by Robert Burns. It was written in 1794 and is read here by Cal Macaninch.

More about this poem

Burns sent this song to George Thomson around May 1794, which he set to a tune composed by Lady Elizabeth Heron (1745-1811), the daughter of the Earl of Dundonald. Burns wrote to Thomson that, "I got an air, pretty enough, composed by Lady Elizabeth Heron of Heron... Cree is a beautiful romantic stream; and as her Ladyship is a particular friend of mine, I have written the following song to it".

Although this music has not been traced, Thomson was not enamoured by the air, and instead suggested that the song be set to another tune. However, Burns rejected this idea.

Ralph McLean

Themes for this poem

nature love woman

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