Bob Dylan reveals Burns inspiration

8:17am Monday 6th October 2008

Bob Dylan has revealed his source of greatest inspiration - the Scottish poet Robert Burns.

The music legend was asked to name the lyric or verse that has had the biggest effect on his life.

He selected the 1794 song A Red, Red Rose, which is often published as a poem, by the man regarded as Scotland's national poet.

Dylan revealed the verse to HMV, as part of the music retailer's My Inspiration campaign.

David Bowie kicked off My Inspiration two years ago when he selected lyrics by the late Pink Floyd star Syd Barrett.

Sir Paul McCartney, Morrissey, Nick Cave and filmmakers Guillermo Del Toro and Mike Leigh, as well as actress Audrey Tautou, have previously revealed their greatest inspiration.

Dylan is the 100th artist to take part.

A Red, Red Rose was, according to some experts, based on a song Burns heard a girl singing in the countryside.

Burns, a pioneer of the Romantic movement, referred to A Red, Red Rose as a "simple old Scots song which I had picked up in the country".

Dr Gerard Carruthers, director of the centre for Burns study at the University of Glasgow, said: "A Red, Red Rose is one of the greatest love songs of all time. It's a song that resonates down the ages. It's part of the Burns song canon."