myguideScotland Blog

Have you listened to Robert Burns’ “Address to a Haggis”?

January 31st, 2008

The majestic sound of bagpipes introduces a frugal dish - and so begins a Burns Supper, held on January 25th to celebrate the date of the Scottish poet Robert Burns’ birthday (1759-1796).

The tradition originated in 1780, when Robert Burns founded the Bachelors’ Debating Club in Tarbolton for any “cheerful, honest-hearted lad, who if he has a friend that is true and a mistress that is kind, and as much wealth as genteely to make both ends meet - is just as happy as this world can make him”.  A sentiment that still seems to ring true more than two centuries later.

Burns’ “Address to a Haggis” is a humorous and earthy poem and the raison d’être for the haggis taking pride of place on the menu of every Burns Supper. It was the poet’s tribute to what he clearly believed to be a great dish but with his customary rich language and vivid imagery it creates, he used it as a light-hearted vehicle to proclaim his love of his native land and its people.

You can listen to this spirited rendition of “Address to a Haggis” by actor John Gordon Sinclair by clicking on the link below.

Rendition of “Address to a Haggis” by actor John Gordon Sinclair

Goes to the BBC website, opens in a new window.  Click on the ‘play’ link to the right.  It definitely helps to have the written version in front of you as you listen!

There’s also much drinking of Scotch whisky at Burns Suppers which (so I’m led to believe you understand) makes the understanding of the “Address” so much more difficult, but apparently you don’t worry about it so much, instead, it helps let the rich words wash over you in a haze of literary genius.

“Address to a Haggis”

Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o the puddin’-race!
Aboon them a’ ye tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy of a grace
As lang’s my arm.

The groaning trencher there ye fill,
Your hurdies like a distant hill,
Your pin wad help to mend a mill
In time o need,
While thro your pores the dews distil
Like amber bead.

His knife see rustic Labour dight,
An cut you up wi ready slight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright,
Like onie ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight,
Warm-reekin, rich!

Then, horn for horn, they stretch an strive:
Deil tak the hindmost, on they drive,
Till a’ their weel-swall’d kytes belyve
Are bent like drums;
The auld Guidman, maist like to rive,
’Bethankit’ hums.

Is there that owre his French ragout,
Or olio that wad staw a sow,
Or fricassee wad mak her spew
Wi perfect sconner,
Looks down wi sneering, scornfu view
On sic a dinner?

Poor devil! see him owre his trash,
As feckless as a wither’d rash,
His spindle shank a guid whip-lash,
His nieve a nit:
Thro bloody flood or field to dash,
O how unfit!

But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed,
The trembling earth resounds his tread,
Clap in his walie nieve a blade,
He’ll make it whissle;
An legs an arms, an heads will sned,
Like taps o thrissle.

Ye Pow’rs, wha mak mankind your care,
And dish them out their bill o fare,
Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware
That jaups in luggies:
But, if ye wish her gratefu prayer,
Gie her a Haggis!

There is more ‘good & useful haggis stuff’ to come (I know, as if this wasn’t enough). 

And of course, the essential ‘how to catch a haggis’. 

Remember, haggis isn’t just for Rabbie Burns day, carve it carefully and it should last until Australia Day.

Have that dram, click on the audio link and enjoy.

Entry Filed under: Haggis, Robert Burns and a' that, Scotland