Explore "The Song of Death" by Robert Burns on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Tune-"Oran an aoig."
Scene-A Field of Battle. Time of the day-evening. The wounded and dying of the victorious army are supposed to join in the following song.
Farewell, thou fair day, thou green earth, and ye skies, / Now gay with the broad setting sun; / Farewell, loves and friendships, ye dear tender ties, / Our race of existence is run! / Thou grim King of Terrors; thou Life's gloomy foe! / Go, frighten the coward and slave; / Go, teach them to tremble, fell tyrant! but know / No terrors hast thou to the brave!
Thou strik'st the dull peasant-he sinks in the dark, / Nor saves e'en the wreck of a name; / Thou strik'st the young hero-a glorious mark; / He falls in the blaze of his fame! / In the field of proud honour-our swords in our hands, / Our King and our country to save; / While victory shines on Life's last ebbing sands,- / O! who would not die with the brave!