YouTube video - Address to the Haggis

[KiltedHuntsman]

Something useful if you want to practice for Burns Night:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8WIWTEjAv4

/found it on Fark
//wish the Philly crowd could get together for a proper Burns Night

[macwilkin]

Or, as an alternative, visit:

http://www.robertburnslive.co.uk

And order Chris Tait's BRILLIANT DVD! I have seen Chris in person, and he is great -- and a very nice fellow besides!

Cheers,

Todd

[Andrewson]

Something useful if you want to practice for Burns Night:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8WIWTEjAv4

/found it on Fark
...

Surely there must be a better example than that to copy!

He reads the whole thing rather than reciting it with all the actions. The highlight is always when you stab the haggis and trench "..its gushing entrails bright."

It's no fun if you just say it.

And you can frighten the life out of your guests at the ".. an' legs an' arms an' heads will sned like taps o' thrissle" bit if you cut loose with your sgain dubh.

We can debate whether tartan is historially accurate on Burns' Night but most folks want to see a flash of the cloth on such occasions and it seems to me to be a pity to deny them that too.

Not the way to do it at all

[Pour1Malt]

aye...

that wuz a wee shortened version no doubt!

baith Emma an ai (e'en wi' ma 'merican accent) dae it better than that!


but e'en worse...

jus hae glaikit wuz that lassie a' the start? yeesh!

[Pour1Malt]

here is a guid definiton o' haggis...

http://sco.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haggis

[Kilted KT]

I guess I'm going to have to learn that one, as I'll be serving haggis here at work when we have out next pot-luck lunch!

(and yes, I'm going to do everything in my power to wear the kilt to work yet again, and get some pics!)

[Pour1Malt]

here is the full text...


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 o' 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 sleight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright,
Like ony 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 lyke drums;
Then 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 ower 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 mak 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!

[freddie]

[QUOTE=Andrewson]

And you can frighten the life out of your guests at the ".. an' legs an' arms an' heads will sned like taps o' thrissle" bit if you cut loose with your sgain dubh.

I always address 'The Haggis' at my Caledonian Society Burns Night and tradionally we use a DIRK ! - Now that really frightens the life out of the first time guests!!!!

[macwilkin]

[QUOTE=freddie]

And you can frighten the life out of your guests at the ".. an' legs an' arms an' heads will sned like taps o' thrissle" bit if you cut loose with your sgain dubh.

I always address 'The Haggis' at my Caledonian Society Burns Night and tradionally we use a DIRK ! - Now that really frightens the life out of the first time guests!!!!

Aye, same here...and we use a large spoon for "then horn for horn..." :mrgreen:

T.

[Kilted KT]

hmm...I'll suggest we use a claymore at burns night here in tulsa..just to be different!