World Famous Burns Supper - Ae Fond Kiss, and Then We Sever

"But to see her was to love her, Love but her, and love for ever."

The present composition is Burns' poetical farewell to Nancy McLehose, more famously known as Clarinda, for whom he felt profound love and affection. According to the history behind the poem, Burns and Clarinda were sharing a platonic relation, as the words "Ae Fond Kiss" also suggest, before she finally left for the West Indies in an attempt to save her marriage.

This is one of the most romantic songs written by Burns as well as one of the saddest, as he uses a very vivid language to describe the pain of his heart. He says that "sighs and groans" is the price he has to pay for keeping her alive in his memory and these will be "waging war" inside him. The poet can't see any glimmer of hope and he emphasizes that their separation is "for ever", leaving him no way to win.

Standard English Translation

One Fond Kiss

One fond kiss, and then we sever!
One farewell, and then forever!
Deep in heart-wrung tears I will pledge you,
Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee.

Who shall say that Fortune grieves him,
While the star of hope she leaves him?
Me, no cheerful twinkle lights me,
Dark despair around overtakes me.

I will never blame my partial fancy:
Nothing could resist my Nancy!
But to see her was to love her,
Love but her, and love for ever.

Had we never loved so kindly,
Had we never loved so blindly,
Never met - or never parted -
We had never been broken-hearted.

Fare-you-well, you first and fairest!
Fare-you-well, you best and dearest!
Yours be every joy and treasure,
Peace, Enjoyment, Love and Pleasure!

One fond kiss, and then we sever!
One farewell, alas, for ever!
Deep in heart-wrung tears I will pledge you,
Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee.

Ae Fond Kiss

Ae fond kiss, and then we sever!
Ae farewell, 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 for ever.

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 farewell, alas, for ever!
Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee,
Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee.