Afton Water is a gentle, lyrical hymn of praise both to the countryside of Scotland itself (the word ‘brae’ means ‘hillside’) and to a girl called Mary who lies sleeping by the banks of the river Afton near Ayr, south of Glasgow. The poet entreats the river, blackbirds, lapwings and stock-doves to go about their business quietly, so as not to disturb the ‘slumbering fair’ Mary.