In 1962, Roy Williamson teamed up with Bill Smith and Ron Cockburn to form the "Corrie Folk Trio". Their first performance was in the Waverley Bar in St Mary's Street, Edinburgh. After a few weeks Cockburn left. They had already accepted an engagement at the Edinburgh Festival so Williamson suggested that Ronnie Browne should be brought in to make up numbers. They also added female Irish singer Paddie Bell to become the "Corrie Folk Trio and Paddie Bell".
In 1966, Paddie Bell and Bill Smith left the group. Under the new name, The Corries, Williamson, a talented multi-instrumentalist, and Browne, the singer, performed at the Jubilee Arms Hotel in Cortachy, Angus. The early 1970s were the Corries' finest hour.
The Corries became legendary for the amount of instruments that were taken onstage during concerts; between the two members, instruments such as guitars, banjoes, mandolins, bodhráns, combolins, harmonicas and tin-whistles were used.
During the Corries' 1989 tour, Roy Williamson's health went into decline and he was diagnosed with a brain tumour. He spent his last years living in Forres, close to where he spent his school years. He died on 12 August 1990.
Ronnie Browne continued recording and moved into acting, as well as expanding his career as a noted painter, including commissions for the 1990 Scottish Rugby team's Grand Slam victory, but has now retired from performing.
In December 2007, The Corries were inducted into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame at the Scottish Trad Music Awards in Fort William, promoted by concertina virtuoso Simon Thoumire's Hands Up for Trad organisation.
Ae Fond Kiss
The Corries Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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.
The Corries's song "Ae Fond Kiss" is a poignant ballad about the pain of lost love. The song tells the story of a man who says goodbye to his beloved, knowing that they will never meet again. The first stanza of the song expresses the painful goodbye, and the second stanza reflects on the happy memories they shared. The final stanza is a wish for his beloved, wishing her joy, treasure, peace, enjoyment, love, and pleasure in life.
The lyrics of "Ae Fond Kiss" are deeply emotional, and many people can relate to the pain of lost love. The song speaks to the human experience of love and loss, and it captures the heartbreak and anguish people feel when they must say goodbye to someone they love deeply. The song is a reminder that even though love can bring us great joy, it can also bring us great pain.
Line by Line Meaning
Ae fond kiss, and then we sever!
A goodbye kiss, and then we part ways.
Ae farewell, and then forever!
A goodbye, and forever separated.
Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee,
I'll cry my heart out and promise my love to you.
Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee.
I'll express my love and sorrow through sighs and groans.
Who shall say that Fortune grieves him,
Who can complain about bad luck, when hope remains?
While the star of hope she leaves him?
When hope is gone, it's hard to find any happiness.
Me, nae cheerfu twinkle lights me,
I'm in despair and can't find any joy.
Dark despair around benights me.
I'm surrounded by darkness and sadness.
I'll ne'er blame my partial fancy:
I won't regret falling in love with you.
Naething could resist my Nancy!
Nothing could stop me from falling in love with Nancy.
But to see her was to love her
Just looking at her made me love her.
Love but her and love for ever.
I'll love only her, and I'll love her forever.
Had we never lov'd sae kindly.
If we hadn't loved so deeply and generously.
Had we never lov'd sae blindly,
If we hadn't loved without any reservations or doubts.
Never met - or never parted
If we had never crossed paths or if we had never separated.
We had ne'er been broken-hearted.
We would have never experienced the pain of heartbreak.
Fare-thee-weel, thou first and fairest!
Goodbye, my first and most beautiful love.
Fare-thee-weel, thou best and dearest!
Goodbye, my best and most beloved one.
Thine be ilka. joy and treasure.
May you have all the happiness and wealth in the world.
Peace, Enjoyment, Love and Pleasure!
Wishing you peace, joy, love, and pleasure.
Ae fond kiss, and then we sever!
A goodbye kiss, and then our paths diverge.
Ae farewell, alas, for ever!
A sad goodbye, forever separated.
Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee.
I'll promise you my love, even as I cry.
Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee.
I'll show you my love through my sighs and groans.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DP, CHRIS HAZELL, ROBERT BURNS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
abrham gebeyehu
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
I'll ne'er blame my partial fancy:
Naething could resist my Nancy!
Just 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 thou fairest!
Fare-thee-weel, thou best oh 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
MLR MLR
His voice is so sweet and gentle, lovely.
sharonhollie70
This was the song my father was recording when he passed away.
A beautiful song about parting.
My father had the privilege of producing a concert The Corries played at in Braemar, they were wonderful to meet afterwards. Treasured memories
stephen quinn
U zonas by azul
Richard Aird
I have been a fan since the late 1960s and saw them live a few times. The Corries remain one of my all time favourite folk acts and also the primal inspiration for my own music making
Albert Smith
Had this played at Mum's funeral as a tribute to her been born in Scotland. Whenever I hear this, memory's flood back into my mind. Childhood, Youth, Manhood and now Old age.
David Burton
Best musicians and singers to ever bless Scotland..❤🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴
Mohamud Verjee
We miss Roy, but Ronnie is still there.
Fiona Green
Read his autobiography,"That Guy Frae The Corries." He has had an amazing life.
AG2424
In my humble opinion this is the best breakup song ever written.
Christine J
Love the “ mandolin “ 🍀♥️