Return to Bibliography of Willa Cather's Readings
Bibliography: "Afton Water" by Burns, Robert
- Title
- "Afton Water"
- Author
- Burns, Robert
- Date
- Genre
- poetry
- Note Source
- The Song of the Lark Book VI, Chap. 3; Book V, Chap. 1
- Note Relating to Cather
- In The Song of the Lark, as Mrs. Kronborg lies dying, she recalls Thea singing "Flow gently, Sweet Afton." Dr. Archie whistles the tune to "Afton Water" earlier in the novel as he is advised by his tailor as to what to wear to the city. He is going to see Thea. The original tune was by Alexander Hume of Edinburgh. However, the tune best known in the United States is by James E. Spilman and was published in 1838.
