Burns described this, probably written in 1790, as ‘the best love-song I ever composed in my life.’
The Anna in the song has been identified as Anne Park, niece of Mrs Hyslop, the hostess of The Globe Tavern in Dumfries. She bore Burns a daughter in March, 1791, and is said to have died in childbirth.
The child, Elizabeth, was brought up by Jean Armour as her own. She, herself had borne Burns a son, William Nicol, on 31st March 1791.