Robert Burns, Dumfries, Scotland

JULY 2005 – The staue of Scottish poet Robert Burns in Dumfries, Scotland. © Mark Zanzig/zanzig.com

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The story behind the image

When visiting Scotland, I guess you will find many references to Scottish national poet Robert Burns. He spent his last five years in Dumfries, and it seems during that period he was a frequent guest at The Hole I’ The Wa’ Inn where he must have poured down incredible amounts of Whiskey for inspiration.

In 1790, at the beginning of his time in Dumfries, he composed the song “My heart is in the Highlands”, a sad, yet magic, song and still one of the most popular Scottish songs today.

Burns died in Dumfries in 1796 at the age of just 37, and today the city claims to be Robert Burns’ town. The city erected this statue to remember his presence and work which continues to live, here in Dumfries and in Scotland – Robert Burns country.

My heart's in the Highlands, my heart is not here,
My heart's in the Highlands, a-chasing the deer;
Chasing the wild-deer, and following the roe,
My heart's in the Highlands, wherever I go.

Farewell to the Highlands, farewell to the North,
The birth-place of Valour, the country of Worth;
Wherever I wander, wherever I rove,
The hills of the Highlands forever I'll love.

Farewell to the mountains, high-cover'd with snow,
Farewell to the straths and green valleys below;
Farewell to the forests and wild-hanging woods,
Farewell to the torrents and loud-pouring floods.

(Chorus)
My heart's in the Highlands, my heart is not here,
My heart's in the Highlands, a-chasing the deer;
Chasing the wild-deer, and following the roe,
My heart's in the Highlands, wherever I go.

(Chorus)

And here it is on Youtube, performed by Judit Rajk (voice), Dóra Pétery (organ).

The high resolution image

Capture Date	11-JUL-2005
Location	Dumfries, Scotland
Camera	Canon AE-1 Program
Lens	Canon FD 70-210 mm f/4
Image Source	Fuji Slide Film
Digital Image Source	EPSON Perfection 4870 Photo
Digital Image Source Format	TIFF, 48 bits/pixel, sRGB
Edited Image Format	JPEG, 24 bits/pixel, sRGB
Edited Image Dimensions	4258 x 6475 Pixels
Copyright	© by Mark Zanzig/zanzig.com