Fareweel to A' Our Scottish Fame - Robert Burns

The title of the poem is also the opening line.  The opening stanza is saying good-bye to Scotland's 'ancient glory' and 'even to the Scottish name' because England is taking over.  The second stanza is about the fighting that the Scots have done against the English, but while they can battle with the best of them, they can't seem to overcome the temptation of gold.  English gold is mentioned as the bane of Scotland.  In the final stanza, the author seems to be lamenting the loss of his national identity.  He mentions Bruce and Wallace as fighters in the battle, but, again, mentions that Scotland was 'bought and sold for English gold.'

The final line in each stanza is "Such a parcel of rogues in a nation!"  At first glance, this appears to be about the English gold.  But after further consideration, I believe it is more about the people that took the gold & gave away Scotland's independence to England.

The first time I read this poem, I did not really care for it.  However, by the third reading, I really enjoyed it.  It seems to sum up very well the feelings of how Scots might have felt, and could possibly still feel today.

The poem shows the feelings of the war in a few lines, and it makes the reader sympathetic to the Scottish cause.