Sweet Afton

{{Short description|Poem by Robert Burns}}

{{About|the Robert Burns poem|the Irish cigarette of the same name|Sweet Afton (cigarette)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

File:Burns Cairn Glenafton.jpg

"Sweet Afton" is a lyrical poem describing the Afton Water in Ayrshire, Scotland. It was written by Robert Burns in 1791.{{cite web|url=https://robertburns.org/works/sweet_afton_340.html|title=Robert Burns Country: Sweet Afton|website=www.robertburns.org}} 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.{{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}}

"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 Bennet (played by Marsha Hunt) in the 1940 film version of Pride and Prejudice.{{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}} 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. The song is the basis for much of the soundtrack of Genius (2016 film), which includes a jazz arrangement, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPe4NL58T4E "Swing Gently Sweet Harlem,"] by Adam Cork. It has also been recorded by Oli Steadman for inclusion in "365 Days Of Folk",{{cite web |url=https://medium.com/@365daysoffolk/january-7-captain-ward-85e9f8eb4975|title=Captain Ward And The Royal Rainbow

|access-date=9 January 2024}} and by Tony Cuffe.{{cite web |title=Sweet Afton by Tony Cuffe |url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/sweet-afton-mt0011300871 |access-date=15 February 2025}}

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.