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{{About|the Robert Burns poem|the Irish cigarette of the same name|Sweet Afton (cigarette)}}
'''''Sweet Afton''''' is a lyrical poem describing the [[River Afton|Afton Water]] in [[Ayrshire]], [[Scotland]]. It was written by [[Robert Burns]] in 1791<ref>http://www.robertburns.org/works/340.shtml</ref> and set to music by [[Jonathan E. Spilman]] in 1837, under the title "Flow gently, sweet Afton". Many artists have performed it over the years since it was written, including the [[progressive bluegrass|progressive acoustic]] trio ''[[Nickel Creek]]'' in 2000.
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
[[File:Burns Cairn Glenafton.jpg|thumb|The Burns Cairn in Glen Afton; the inscription on the cairn says "Flow Gently Sweet Afton. Robert Burns 1759 - 1796. Erected by New Cumnock Burns Club (500) to mark its golden jubilee 1973."]]
"'''Sweet Afton'''" is a lyrical poem describing the [[River Afton|Afton Water]] in [[Ayrshire]], [[Scotland]]. It was written by [[Robert Burns]] in 1791.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://robertburns.org/works/sweet-afton/|title=Robert Burns Country: Sweet Afton|website=www.robertburns.org}}</ref> The poem was first published as a song in the Scots Musical Museum (1787-1803) and this is the best known version as sung throughout Scotland. The poem is also known as a song set to music in 1837 in the USA by [[Jonathan E. Spilman]]; however, this is not the melody sung in Scotland.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-fYyxAsors|title=RobertBurns Tribute channel (YouTube)|website=[[YouTube]] |date=10 October 2016 |access-date=December 31, 2023}}</ref>


''Sweet Afton'' contains a lot of monosyllables, which contribute to a gentle, soothing rhythm. It can be seen as a hymn for peace. The poem is in the metre 11 - 11 - 11- 11, and is often sung to the tune of the popular [[Christmas carol]] ''[[Away in a Manger]]'' called ''Cradle Song''.
"Sweet Afton" contains a number of monosyllables, which contribute to a gentle, soothing rhythm. It can be seen as a hymn for peace. The poem is in the metre 11 - 11 - 11- 11. [[The University of South Carolina]] uses the 1837 Spilman melody for their alma mater, "[[We Hail Thee Carolina]]".


The song is sung by Mary Bennett (played by [[Marsha Hunt (actress, born 1917)|Marsha Hunt]]) in the 1940 film version of ''[[Pride and Prejudice (1940 film)|Pride and Prejudice]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOMZngHTdSY|title=Pride and Prejudice 1940 version|website=[[YouTube]] |date=11 July 2013 }}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}</ref> It is also mentioned in Chapter IX of MacKinlay Kantor's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel ''Andersonville'' (1955). In the Andy Griffith Show episode “Mayberry Goes Hollywood” (1961) a citizen of Mayberry sings “Sweet Afton” to serenade a visiting Hollywood film producer.
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In the town of [[New Cumnock]] in [[East Ayrshire]] there is a bridge across Afton Water on the [[A76 road|A76]] upon which there is a plaque commemorating Robert Burns and this great poem.

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The Afton of New Cumnock, gives its name to the Glen of Afton, which has connections with: William Wallace, Robert Bruce, Mary Queen of Scots (1568) and Robert Burns. The Wallace seal attached to the Lubeck Letter of 1297 gives substance to the theory that Wallaces father was from Kyle Regis (this area) and a rock formation "up the glen" is named '''Castle William''', supposedly after the Scottish patriot's fortification.
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In the town of [[New Cumnock]] in [[East Ayrshire]] there is a bridge across Afton Water on the [[A76 road|A76]] upon which there is a plaque commemorating Robert Burns and his poem.

⚫
The River Afton of New Cumnock gives its name to Glen Afton through which the river runs, which has connections with [[William Wallace]], [[Robert the Bruce]], [[Mary Queen of Scots]] (1568), and Robert Burns. The Wallace seal attached to the Lubeck Letter of 1297 gives substance to the theory that Wallace's father was from Kyle Regis (this area) and a rock formation "up the glen" is named Castle William, supposedly after the Scottish patriot's fortification.


The [[Bristol]]-based [[tobacco]] manufacturer [[W.D. & H.O. Wills]] marketed [[cigarette]]s under the [[brand]]-name [[Sweet Afton (Cigarettes)|Sweet Afton]]. The original manufacturer was the [[Ireland|Irish]] company P.J. Carroll.
==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
{{wikisource}}
{{wikisource}}
*Digitised copy of [http://digital.nls.uk/87799216 Afton water] in James Johnson's [[Scots Musical Museum]], printed between 1787 and 1803, from [[National Library of Scotland]]. JPEG, PDF, XML versions.

{{Robert Burns}}
{{Robert Burns}}
{{Authority control}}
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{{poem-stub}}


[[Category:Poetry by Robert Burns]]
[[Category:Poetry by Robert Burns]]
[[Category:Scots-language works]]
[[Category:1791 poems]]
[[Category:1791 in Scotland]]
[[Category:Songs based on poems]]


{{Scotland-stub}}
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{{poem-stub}}

Latest revision as of 11:04, 15 November 2024

This article is about the Robert Burns poem. For the Irish cigarette of the same name, see Sweet Afton (cigarette).

The Burns Cairn in Glen Afton; the inscription on the cairn says "Flow Gently Sweet Afton. Robert Burns 1759 - 1796. Erected by New Cumnock Burns Club (500) to mark its golden jubilee 1973."

"Sweet Afton" is a lyrical poem describing the Afton Water in Ayrshire, Scotland. It was written by Robert Burns in 1791.[1] The poem was first published as a song in the Scots Musical Museum (1787-1803) and this is the best known version as sung throughout Scotland. The poem is also known as a song set to music in 1837 in the USA by Jonathan E. Spilman; however, this is not the melody sung in Scotland.[2]

"Sweet Afton" contains a number of monosyllables, which contribute to a gentle, soothing rhythm. It can be seen as a hymn for peace. The poem is in the metre 11 - 11 - 11- 11. The University of South Carolina uses the 1837 Spilman melody for their alma mater, "We Hail Thee Carolina".

The song is sung by Mary Bennett (played by Marsha Hunt) in the 1940 film version of Pride and Prejudice.[3] It is also mentioned in Chapter IX of MacKinlay Kantor's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Andersonville (1955). In the Andy Griffith Show episode “Mayberry Goes Hollywood” (1961) a citizen of Mayberry sings “Sweet Afton” to serenade a visiting Hollywood film producer.

In the town of New Cumnock in East Ayrshire there is a bridge across Afton Water on the A76 upon which there is a plaque commemorating Robert Burns and his poem.

The River Afton of New Cumnock gives its name to Glen Afton through which the river runs, which has connections with William Wallace, Robert the Bruce, Mary Queen of Scots (1568), and Robert Burns. The Wallace seal attached to the Lubeck Letter of 1297 gives substance to the theory that Wallace's father was from Kyle Regis (this area) and a rock formation "up the glen" is named Castle William, supposedly after the Scottish patriot's fortification.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Robert Burns Country: Sweet Afton". www.robertburns.org.
  2. ^ "RobertBurns Tribute channel (YouTube)". YouTube. 10 October 2016. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  3. ^ "Pride and Prejudice 1940 version". YouTube. 11 July 2013.[dead YouTube link]
[edit]
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