Traditional Scottish Songs
- John Anderson, My Jo

This was originally a bawdy ballad which Robert Burns turned into a charming verse about the continuing love of an old married couple. Quite why Burns chose to do this (he turned out many a bawdy poem himself) is not clear. We just have to be thankful that he did so!


John Anderson, My Jo

John Anderson, my jo, John,
When we were first acquent;
Your locks were like the raven,
Your bonie brow was brent;
But now your brow is beld, John,
Your locks are like the snaw;
But blessings on your frosty pow,
John Anderson, my jo.

John Anderson, my jo, John,
We clamb the hill the gither;
And mony a cantie day, John,
We've had wi' ane anither:
Now we maun totter down, John,
And hand in hand we'll go,
And sleep thegither at the foot,
John Anderson, my jo.

Meaning of unusual words:
jo=darling
acquent=acquainted
brent=smooth
beld=bald
pow=crown of your head
clamb=climb
thegither=together
cantie=happy
maun=must

Return to the Index of Traditional Scottish Songs




Where else would you like to go in Scotland?








Separator line