Skip directly to:Main content Main navigation

University of Virginia Library

The Poetry of Robert Burns

Edited by William Ernest Henley and Thomas F. Henderson

Burns, Robert (1759-1796)

collapse section

I.

collapse section

KILMARNOCK 1786

THE AUTHOR'S EARNEST CRY AND PRAYER

ADDRESS TO THE DEIL

THE DEATH AND DYING WORDS OF POOR MAILIE,

POOR MAILIE'S ELEGY

EPISTLE TO JAMES SMITH

THE AULD FARMERS NEW-YEAR MORNING SALUTATION TO HIS AULD MARE, MAGGIE

THE COTTER'S SATURDAY NIGHT

EPISTLE TO DAVIE, A BROTHER POET

DESPONDENCY An Ode

MAN WAS MADE TO MOURN

A PRAYER IN THE PROSPECT OF DEATH

TO A MOUNTAIN DAISY

EPISTLE TO A YOUNG FRIEND

ON A SCOTCH BARD GONE TO THE WEST INDIES

A DEDICATION TO GAVIN HAMILTON, ESQ.

EPISTLE TO J. LAPRAIK

SECOND EPISTLE TO J. LAPRAIK

TO WILLIAM SIMPSON OF OCHILTREE

EPISTLE TO JOHN RANKINE

SONG: COMPOSED IN AUGUST

SONG: FROM THEE ELIZA

EPITAPH ON A HENPECKED SQUIRE

EPIGRAM ON SAID OCCASION

collapse section

ON A CELEBRATED RULING ELDER

ON A NOISY POLEMIC

FOR THE AUTHOR'S FATHER

FOR ROBERT AIKEN, Esq.

FOR GAVIN HAMILTON, Esq.

A BARD'S EPITAPH

collapse section

ADDED, EDINBURGH 1787

DEATH AND DOCTOR HORNBOOK

THE BRIGS OF AYR

ADDRESS TO THE UNCO GUID

TAM SAMSON'S ELEGY

STANZAS WRITTEN IN PROSPECT OF DEATH

PRAYER: O THOU DREAD POWER

PARAPHRASE OF THE FIRST PSALM

PRAYER UNDER THE PRESSURE OF VIOLENT ANGUISH

THE NINETIETH PSALM VERSIFIED

ADDRESS TO A HAGGIS

ADDRESS TO EDINBURGH

collapse section

JOHN BARLEYCORN

A FRAGMENT: WHEN GUILFORD GOOD

GREEN GROW THE RASHES, O

COMPOSED IN SPRING

THE GLOOMY NIGHT IS GATHERING FAST

NO CHURCHMAN AM I

collapse section

ADDED, EDINBURGH 1793

WRITTEN IN FRIARS CARSE HERMITAGE, ON NITHSIDE

ODE, SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF MRS. OSWALD OF AUCHENCRUIVE

ELEGY ON CAPTAIN MATTHEW HENDERSON

LAMENT OF MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS

TO ROBERT GRAHAM OF FINTRY, ESQ.

LAMENT FOR JAMES EARL OF GLENCAIRN

LINES TO SIR JOHN WHITEFOORD, Bart.

TAM O' SHANTER A TALE

ON SEEING A WOUNDED HARE LIMP BY ME WHICH A FELLOW HAD JUST SHOT AT

ADDRESS TO THE SHADE OF THOMSON

ON THE LATE CAPTAIN GROSE'S PEREGRINATIONS THRO' SCOTLAND

TO MISS CRUICKSHANK

SONG: ANNA THY CHARMS

ON READING IN A NEWSPAPER THE DEATH OF JOHN M'LEOD, ESQ.

THE HUMBLE PETITION OF BRUAR WATER

ON SCARING SOME WATER-FOWL IN LOCH TURIT

VERSES WRITTEN WITH A PENCIL

LINES ON THE FALL OF FYERS NEAR LOCH NESS

ON THE BIRTH OF A POSTHUMOUS CHILD

THE WHISTLE A Ballad

collapse section

2.

THE JOLLY BEGGARS

collapse section

SATIRES AND VERSES

THE TWA HERDS: OR, THE HOLY TULYIE

HOLY WILLIE'S PRAYER

THE KIRK'S ALARM

A POET'S WELCOME TO HIS LOVE-BEGOTTEN DAUGHTER

A MAUCHLINE WEDDING

ADAM ARMOUR'S PRAYER

LINES ON MEETING WITH LORD DAER

ADDRESS TO THE TOOTHACHE

LAMENT FOR THE ABSENCE OF WILLIAM CREECH, PUBLISHER

VERSES IN FRIARS CARSE HERMITAGE

ELEGY ON THE DEPARTED YEAR 1788

ON THE DUCHESS OF GORDON'S REEL DANCING

ON CAPTAIN GROSE

NEW YEAR'S DAY 1791

FROM ESOPUS TO MARIA

collapse section

NOTES AND EPISTLES

TO JOHN RANKINE

TO THE REV. JOHN M'MATH

TO JOHN KENNEDY, DUMFRIES HOUSE

TO GAVIN HAMILTON, ESQ., MAUCHLINE

TO MR. M'ADAM OF CRAIGEN-GILLAN

REPLY TO AN INVITATION

TO DR. MACKENZIE

TO JOHN KENNEDY

TO WILLIE CHALMERS' SWEETHEART

TO AN OLD SWEETHEART

EXTEMPORE TO GAVIN HAMILTON

REPLY TO A TRIMMING EPISTLE RECEIVED FROM A TAILOR

TO THE GUIDWIFE OF WAUCHOPE HOUSE

TO WM. TYTLER, ESQ., OF WOODHOUSELEE

TO MR. RENTON OF LAMERTON

TO MISS ISABELLA MACLEOD

TO MISS FERRIER

SYLVANDER TO CLARINDA

TO ALEX. CUNNINGHAM

TO ROBERT GRAHAM, ESQ., OF FINTRY

IMPROMPTU TO CAPTAIN RIDDELL

REPLY TO A NOTE FROM CAPTAIN RIDDELL

TO JAMES TENNANT OF GLENCONNER

TO JOHN M'MURDO

SONNET TO ROBERT GRAHAM, ESQ. OF FINTRY

EPISTLE TO DR. BLACKLOCK

TO A GENTLEMAN WHO HAD SENT A NEWSPAPER, AND OFFERED TO CONTINUE IT FREE OF EXPENSE

TO PETER STUART

TO JOHN MAXWELL, ESQ. OF TERRAUGHTIE

TO WILLIAM STEWART

INSCRIPTION TO MISS GRAHAM OF FINTRY

REMORSEFUL APOLOGY

TO COLLECTOR MITCHELL

TO COLONEL DE PEYSTER

TO MISS JESSIE LEWARS

collapse section

THEATRICAL PIECES

PROLOGUE SPOKEN AT THE THEATRE OF DUMFRIES

SCOTS PROLOGUE FOR MRS. SUTHERLAND

THE RIGHTS OF WOMAN

collapse section

POLITICAL PIECES

ADDRESS OF BEELZEBUB

BIRTHDAY ODE FOR 31ST DECEMBER 1787

ODE TO THE DEPARTED REGENCY BILL

A NEW PSALM FOR THE CHAPEL OF KILMARNOCK

INSCRIBED TO THE RIGHT HON. C. J. FOX

ON GLENRIDDELL'S FOX BREAKING HIS CHAIN

ON THE COMMEMORATION OF RODNEY'S VICTORY

ODE FOR GENERAL WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY

THE FÊTE CHAMPETRE

THE FIVE CARLINS

ELECTION BALLAD FOR WESTERHA'

ELECTION BALLAD

collapse section

BALLADS ON MR. HERON'S ELECTION, 1795

BALLAD SECOND: THE ELECTION

BALLAD THIRD JOHN BUSHBY'S LAMENTATION

BALLAD FOURTH: THE TROGGER

THE DEAN OF THE FACULTY

collapse section

THE TARBOLTON LASSES

THE RONALDS OF THE BENNALS

I'LL GO AND BE A SODGER

APOSTROPHE TO FERGUSSON

THE BELLES OF MAUCHLINE

AH, WOE IS ME, MY MOTHER DEAR

INSCRIBED ON A WORK OF HANNAH MORE'S

LINES WRITTEN ON A BANK NOTE

ELEGY ON THE DEATH OF ROBERT RUISSEAUX

VERSES INTENDED TO BE WRITTEN BELOW A NOBLE EARL'S PICTURE

ELEGY ON THE DEATH OF SIR JAMES HUNTER BLAIR

ON THE DEATH OF LORD PRESIDENT DUNDAS

ELEGY ON WILLIE NICOL'S MARE

LINES ON FERGUSSON

ELEGY ON THE LATE MISS BURNET OF MONBODDO

PEGASUS AT WANLOCKHEAD

ON SOME COMMEMORATIONS OF THOMSON

ON GENERAL DUMOURIER'S DESERTION

ON JOHN M'MURDO

ON HEARING A THRUSH SING IN A MORNING WALK IN JANUARY

IMPROMPTU ON MRS. RIDDELL'S BIRTHDAY

SONNET ON THE DEATH OF ROBERT RIDDELL OF GLENRIDDELL

A SONNET UPON SONNETS

collapse section

TRAGIC FRAGMENT

RUSTICITY'S UNGAINLY FORM

ON WILLIAM CREECH

ON WILLIAM SMELLIE

SKETCH FOR AN ELEGY

IN VAIN WOULD PRUDENCE

THE CARES O' LOVE

collapse section

EXTEMPORE IN THE COURT OF SESSION

ON ELPHINSTONE'S TRANSLATION OF MARTIAL

ON JOHNSON'S OPINION OF HAMPDEN

UNDER THE PORTRAIT OF MISS BURNS

ON MISS AINSLIE IN CHURCH

AT CARRON IRONWORKS

ON SEEING THE ROYAL PALACE AT STIRLING IN RUINS

ADDITIONAL LINES AT STIRLING

REPLY TO THE THREAT OF A CENSORIOUS CRITIC

A HIGHLAND WELCOME

AT WHIGHAM'S INN SANQUHAR

VERSICLES ON SIGN-POSTS

ON MISS JEAN SCOTT

ON CAPTAIN FRANCIS GROSE

ON BEING APPOINTED TO AN EXCISE DIVISION

ON A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY SEAT

THE TYRANT WIFE

AT BROWNHILL INN

IN LAMINGTON KIRK

THE KEEKIN GLASS

AT THE GLOBE TAVERN, DUMFRIES

YE TRUE LOYAL NATIVES

ON COMMISSARY GOLDIE'S BRAINS

IN A LADY'S POCKET BOOK

AGAINST THE EARL OF GALLOWAY

ON THE SAME, ON THE AUTHOR BEING THREATENED WITH VENGEANCE

ON THE LAIRD OF LAGGAN

ON MARIA RIDDELL

ON MISS FONTENELLE

KIRK AND STATE EXCISEMEN

ON THANKSGIVING FOR A NATIONAL VICTORY

PINNED TO MRS. WALTER RIDDELL'S CARRIAGE

TO THE BEAUTIFUL MISS ELIZA J---N

TO THE HON. WM. R. MAULE OF PANMURE

ON SEEING MRS. KEMBLE IN YARICO

ON DR. BABINGTON'S LOOKS

ON ANDREW TURNER

THE SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT

TO JOHN SYME OF RYEDALE

APOLOGY TO JOHN SYME

ON MR. JAMES GRACIE

AT FRIARS CARSE HERMITAGE

FOR AN ALTAR OF INDEPENDENCE

collapse section

VERSICLES TO JESSIE LEWARS

JESSIE'S ILLNESS

collapse section

AT THE GLOBE TAVERN

collapse section

ON JAMES GRIEVE, LAIRD OF BOGHEAD, TARBOLTON

ON WM. MUIR IN TARBOLTON MILL

ON JOHN RANKINE

ON TAM THE CHAPMAN

ON JOHN DOVE, INNKEEPER

ON A WAG IN MAUCHLINE

ON ROBERT FERGUSSON

ADDITIONAL STANZAS

FOR WILLIAM NICOL

FOR MR. WILLIAM MICHIE

FOR WILLIAM CRUICKSHANK, A.M.

FOR MR. WALTER RIDDELL

ON A NOTED COXCOMB

ON CAPT. LASCELLES

ON A GALLOWAY LAIRD

ON WM. GRAHAM OF MOSSKNOWE

ON JOHN BUSHBY OF TINWALD DOWNS

ON A SWEARING COXCOMB

ON AN INNKEEPER NICKNAMED ‘THE MARQUIS’

ON GRIZZEL GRIMME

FOR GABRIEL RICHARDSON

collapse section

III.

TO THE WEAVER'S GIN YE GO

O, WHISTLE AN' I'LL COME TO YE, MY LAD

I'M O'ER YOUNG TO MARRY YET

THE BIRKS OF ABERFELDIE

M'PHERSON'S FAREWELL

MY HIGHLAND LASSIE, O

THO' CRUEL FATE

STAY, MY CHARMER

STRATHALLAN'S LAMENT

UP IN THE MORNING EARLY

THE YOUNG HIGHLAND ROVER

THE DUSTY MILLER

I DREAM'D I LAY

THENIEL MENZIES' BONIE MARY

LADY ONLIE, HONEST LUCKY

THE BANKS OF THE DEVON

LANDLADY, COUNT THE LAWIN

RAVING WINDS AROUND HER BLOWING

HOW LANG AND DREARY IS THE NIGHT

MUSING ON THE ROARING OCEAN

O'ER THE WATER TO CHARLIE

A ROSE-BUD, BY MY EARLY WALK

AND I'LL KISS THEE YET

RATTLIN, ROARIN WILLIE

WHERE, BRAVING ANGRY WINTER'S STORMS

O TIBBIE, I HAE SEEN THE DAY

CLARINDA, MISTRESS OF MY SOUL

THE WINTER IT IS PAST

I LOVE MY LOVE IN SECRET

SWEET TIBBIE DUNBAR

THE TAILOR FELL THRO' THE BED

BEWARE O' BONIE ANN

LADDIE, LIE NEAR ME

THE GARD'NER WI' HIS PAIDLE

ON A BANK OF FLOWERS

THE DAY RETURNS

MY LOVE, SHE'S BUT A LASSIE YET

JAMIE, COME TRY ME

THE SILVER TASSIE

THE CAPTAIN'S LADY

OF A' THE AIRTS

CARL, AN THE KING COME

WHISTLE O'ER THE LAVE O'T

O, WERE I ON PARNASSUS HILL

THE CAPTIVE RIBBAND

THERE'S A YOUTH IN THIS CITY

MY HEART'S IN THE HIGHLANDS

JOHN ANDERSON MY JO

AWA', WHIGS, AWA'

CA' THE YOWES TO THE KNOWES

O, MERRY HAE I BEEN

A MOTHER'S LAMENT

THE WHITE COCKADE

THE BRAES O' BALLOCHMYLE

THE RANTIN DOG, THE DADDIE O'T

THOU LINGERING STAR

THE BATTLE OF SHERRAMUIR

YOUNG JOCKIE WAS THE BLYTHEST LAD

A WAUKRIFE MINNIE

THO' WOMEN'S MINDS

WILLIE BREW'D A PECK O' MAUT

THE BLUE-EYED LASSIE

THE BANKS OF NITH

CRAIGIEBURN WOOD

FRAE THE FRIENDS AND LAND I LOVE

O JOHN, COME KISS ME NOW

COCK UP YOUR BEAVER

MY TOCHER'S THE JEWEL

GUIDWIFE, COUNT THE LAWIN

THERE'LL NEVER BE PEACE TILL JAMIE COMES HAME

WHAT CAN A YOUNG LASSIE

THE BONIE LAD THAT'S FAR AWA

I DO CONFESS THOU ART SAE FAIR

SENSIBILITY HOW CHARMING

YON WILD MOSSY MOUNTAINS

I HAE BEEN AT CROOKIEDEN

IT IS NA, JEAN, THY BONIE FACE

MY EPPIE MACNAB

WHA IS THAT AT MY BOWER DOOR

BONIE WEE THING

THE TITHER MORN

THE WEARY PUND O' TOW

I HAE A WIFE O' MY AIN

WHEN SHE CAM BEN, SHE BOBBED

O, FOR ANE-AND-TWENTY, TAM

O, KENMURE'S ON AND AWA, WILLIE

O, LEEZE ME ON MY SPINNIN-WHEEL

MY COLLIER LADDIE

NITHSDALE'S WELCOME HAME

IN SIMMER, WHEN THE HAY WAS MAWN

YE JACOBITES BY NAME

THE BANKS O' DOON

SUCH A PARCEL OF ROGUES IN A NATION

KELLYBURN BRAES

THE SLAVE'S LAMENT

THE SONG OF DEATH

THE GALLANT WEAVER

O, CAN YE LABOUR LEA

THE DEUK'S DANG O'ER MY DADDIE

SHE'S FAIR AND FAUSE

THE DEIL'S AWA WI' TH'EXCISEMAN

THE LOVELY LASS OF INVERNESS

A RED, RED ROSE

AS I STOOD BY YON ROOFLESS TOWER

O, AN YE WERE DEAD, GUIDMAN

LOUIS, WHAT RECK I BY THEE

HAD I THE WYTE?

COMIN THRO' THE RYE

OUT OVER THE FORTH

WANTONNESS FOR EVERMAIR

CHARLIE HE'S MY DARLING

THE LASS O' ECCLEFECHAN

THE COOPER O' CUDDY

FOR THE SAKE O' SOMEBODY

THERE'S THREE TRUE GUID FELLOWS

SAE FLAXEN WERE HER RINGLETS

THE LASS THAT MADE THE BED

THE REEL O' STUMPIE

I'LL AY CA' IN BY YON TOWN

O, WAT YE WHA'S IN YON TOWN

WHEREFORE SIGHING ART THOU, PHILLIS?

O MAY, THY MORN

AS I CAME O'ER THE CAIRNEY MOUNT

HIGHLAND LADDIE

WILT THOU BE MY DEARIE?

LOVELY POLLY STEWART

THE HIGHLAND BALOU

BANNOCKS O' BEAR MEAL

WAE IS MY HEART

HERE'S HIS HEALTH IN WATER

THE WINTER OF LIFE

THERE GROWS A BONIE BRIER-BUSH

HERE'S TO THY HEALTH

IT WAS A' FOR OUR RIGHTFU' KING

THE HIGHLAND WIDOW'S LAMENT

THOU GLOOMY DECEMBER

MY PEGGY'S FACE, MY PEGGY'S FORM

O, STEER HER UP, AN' HAUD HER GAUN

WEE WILLIE GRAY

WE'RE A' NODDIN

O, AY MY WIFE SHE DANG ME

O, GUID ALE COMES

ROBIN SHURE IN HAIRST

DOES HAUGHTY GAUL INVASION THREAT?

O, ONCE I LOV'D A BONIE LASS

MY LORD A-HUNTING

MEG O' THE MILL

JOCKIE'S TA'EN THE PARTING KISS

O, LAY THY LOOF IN MINE, LASS

CAULD IS THE E'ENIN BLAST

THERE WAS A BONIE LASS

THERE'S NEWS, LASSES, NEWS

O, THAT I HAD NE'ER BEEN MARRIED

MALLY'S MEEK, MALLY'S SWEET

WANDERING WILLIE

BRAW LADS O' GALLA WATER

AULD ROB MORRIS

OPEN THE DOOR TO ME, O

WHEN WILD WAR'S DEADLY BLAST

DELUDED SWAIN, THE PLEASURE

HERE IS THE GLEN

LET NOT WOMEN E'ER COMPLAIN

O POORTITH CAULD

O, STAY, SWEET WARBLING WOOD-LARK

SAW YE BONIE LESLEY

SWEET FA'S THE EVE

ADOWN WINDING NITH

A LASS WI' A TOCHER

BLYTHE HAE I BEEN ON YON HILL

BY ALLAN STREAM

CANST THOU LEAVE ME

COME, LET ME TAKE THEE

CONTENTED WI' LITTLE

FAREWELL, THOU STREAM

HERE'S A HEALTH

HOW CRUEL ARE THE PARENTS

HUSBAND, HUSBAND, CEASE YOUR STRIFE

IT WAS THE CHARMING MONTH

LAST MAY A BRAW WOOER

NOW SPRING HAS CLAD

O, THIS IS NO MY AIN LASSIE

O, WAT YE WHA THAT LO'ES ME

THEIR GROVES O' SWEET MYRTLE

THOU HAST LEFT ME EVER, JAMIE

MY CHLORIS, MARK

FAIREST MAID ON DEVON BANKS

LASSIE WI' THE LINT-WHITE LOCKS

LONG, LONG THE NIGHT

WHERE ARE THE JOYS

BEHOLD THE HOUR

FORLORN MY LOVE

CA' THE YOWES TO THE KNOWES

HOW CAN MY POOR HEART

IS THERE FOR HONEST POVERTY

MARK YONDER POMP

O, LET ME IN THIS AE NIGHT

O PHILLY, HAPPY BE THAT DAY

O, WERE MY LOVE

THERE WAS A LASS

MY WIFE'S A WINSOME WEE THING

collapse section

IV.

collapse section

MISCELLANEOUS SONGS

A RUINED FARMER

MONTGOMERIE'S PEGGY

THE LASS OF CESSNOCK BANKS

THO' FICKLE FORTUNE

MY FATHER WAS A FARMER

O, LEAVE NOVÉLS

THE MAUCHLINE LADY

ONE NIGHT AS I DID WANDER

THERE WAS A LAD

WILL YE GO TO THE INDIES, MY MARY

HER FLOWING LOCKS

THE LASS O' BALLOCHMYLE

THE NIGHT WAS STILL

THE BONIE MOOR-HEN

HERE'S A BOTTLE

THE BONIE LASS OF ALBANIE

AMANG THE TREES

THE CHEVALIER'S LAMENT

YESTREEN I HAD A PINT O' WINE

SWEET ARE THE BANKS

YE FLOWERY BANKS

YOU'RE WELCOME, WILLIE STEWART

WHEN FIRST I SAW

BEHOLD THE HOUR

HERE'S A HEALTH TO THEM THAT'S AWA

MEG O' THE MILL

PHILLIS THE FAIR

O SAW YE MY DEAR, MY PHILLY

'TWAS NA HER BONIE BLUE E'E

WHY, WHY TELL THY LOVER

O, WERT THOU IN THE CAULD BLAST

collapse section

YOUR FRIENDSHIP

FOR THEE IS LAUGHING NATURE

NO COLD APPROACH

ALTHO' HE HAS LEFT ME

LET LOOVE SPARKLE

AS DOWN THE BURN

collapse section

ELEGY ON STELLA

POEM ON PASTORAL POETRY

ON THE DESTRUCTION OF DRUMLANRIG WOODS

THE JOYFUL WIDOWER

WHY SHOULD WE IDLY WASTE OUR PRIME

THE TREE OF LIBERTY

ON THE ILLNESS OF A FAVOURITE CHILD

ON THE DEATH OF A FAVOURITE CHILD

ADDENDUM TO MALLY'S MEEK

collapse section

Collapse All | Expand All expand section

172

HIGHLAND LADDIE

I

The bonniest lad that e'er I saw—
Bonie laddie, Highland laddie!
Wore a plaid and was fu' braw—
Bonie Highland laddie!
On his head a bonnet blue—
Bonie laddie, Highland laddie!
His royal heart was firm and true—
Bonie Highland laddie!

II

‘Trumpets sound and cannons roar,
Bonie lassie, Lawland lassie!—
And a' the hills wi' echoes roar,
Bonie Lawland lassie!
Glory, Honour, now invite—
Bonie lassie, Lawland lassie!—
For freedom and my King to fight,
Bonie Lawland lassie!’

III

‘The sun a backward course shall take,
Bonie laddie, Highland laddie!
Ere aught thy manly courage shake,
Bonie Highland laddie!

173

Go, for yoursel' procure renown,
Bonie laddie, Highland laddie,
And for your lawful King his crown,
Bonie Highland laddie!’