Front matter

POEMS AND SONGS OF ROBERT BURNS

by Robert Burns

 Introductory Note


 1771 - 1779

 Song—Handsome Nell
 Song—O Tibbie, I Hae Seen The Day
 Song—I Dream’d I Lay
 Song—I Dream’d I Lay
 Song—In The Character Of A Ruined Farmer
 Tragic Fragment—All villain as I am
 The Tarbolton Lasses
 Ah, Woe Is Me, My Mother Dear
 Song—Montgomerie’s Peggy
 The Ploughman’s Life

 1780

 The Ronalds Of The Bennals
 Song—Here’s To Thy Health
 Song—The Lass Of Cessnock Banks
 Song—Bonie Peggy Alison
 Song—Mary Morison

 1781

 Winter: A Dirge
 A Prayer, Under The Pressure Of Violent Anguish
 Paraphrase Of The First Psalm
 The First Six Verses Of The Ninetieth Psalm Versified
 Prayer, In The Prospect Of Death
 Stanzas, On The Same Occasion

 1782
 Fickle Fortune: A Fragment
 Song—Raging Fortune—Fragment Of
 I’ll Go And Be A Sodger
 Song—“No Churchman Am I”
  My Father Was A Farmer
 John Barleycorn: A Ballad

 1783

 Death And Dying Words Of Poor Mailie
 Poor Mailie’s Elegy
 Song—The Rigs O’ Barley
 Song Composed In August
 Song—My Nanie, O!
 Song—Green Grow The Rashes
 Song—Wha Is That At My Bower-Door

 1784

 Remorse: A Fragment
 Epitaph On Wm. Hood, Senr., In Tarbolton
 Epitaph On James Grieve, Laird Of Boghead, Tarbolton
 Epitaph On My Own Friend And My Father’s Friend, Wm. Muir In Tarbolton
   Mill
 Epitaph On My Ever Honoured Father
 Ballad On The American War
 Reply To An Announcement By J. Rankine
 Epistle To John Rankine
 A Poet’s Welcome To His Love-Begotten Daughter^1
 Song—O Leave Novels!
 The Mauchline Lady: A Fragment
 My Girl She’s Airy: A Fragment
 The Belles Of Mauchline
 Epitaph On A Noisy Polemic
 Epitaph On A Henpecked Country Squire
 Epigram On The Said Occasion
 Another On The said Occasion
 On Tam The Chapman
 Epitaph On John Rankine
 Lines On The Author’s Death
 Man Was Made To Mourn: A Dirge
 The Twa Herds; Or, The Holy Tulyie

 1785

 Epistle To Davie, A Brother Poet
 Holy Willie’s Prayer
 Epitaph On Holy Willie
 Death and Doctor Hornbook
 Epistle To J. Lapraik, An Old Scottish Bard
 Second Epistle To J. Lapraik
 Epistle To William Simson
 One Night As I Did Wander
 Tho’ Cruel Fate Should Bid Us Part
 Song—Rantin’, Rovin’ Robin
 Elegy On The Death Of Robert Ruisseaux
 Epistle To John Goldie, In Kilmarnock
 The Holy Fair
 Third Epistle To J. Lapraik
 Epistle To The Rev. John M’math
 Second Epistle to Davie
 Song—Young Peggy Blooms
 Song—Farewell To Ballochmyle
 Fragment—Her Flowing Locks
 Halloween
 To A Mouse
 Epitaph On John Dove, Innkeeper
 Epitaph For James Smith
 Adam Armour’s Prayer
 The Jolly Beggars: A Cantata
 Song—For A’ That
 Song—Merry Hae I Been Teethin A Heckle
 The Cotter’s Saturday Night
 Address To The Deil
 Scotch Drink

 1786

 The Auld Farmer’s New-Year—Morning Salutation To His Auld Mare,
   Maggie
 The Twa Dogs
 The Author’s Earnest Cry And Prayer
 The Ordination
 Epistle To James Smith
 The Vision
 Suppressed Stanza’s Of “The Vision”
  The Rantin’ Dog, The Daddie O’t
 Here’s His Health In Water
 Address To The Unco Guid, Or The Rigidly Righteous
 The Inventory
 To John Kennedy, Dumfries House
 To Mr. M’Adam, Of Craigen-Gillan
 To A Louse
 Inscribed On A Work Of Hannah More’s
 Song, Composed In Spring
 To A Mountain Daisy,
 To Ruin
 The Lament
 Despondency: An Ode
 To Gavin Hamilton, Esq., Mauchline, Recommending a Boy.
 Versified Reply To An Invitation
 Song—Will Ye Go To The Indies, My Mary?
 My Highland Lassie, O
 Epistle To A Young Friend
 Address Of Beelzebub
 A Dream
 A Dedication To Gavin Hamilton, Esq.
 Versified Note To Dr. Mackenzie, Mauchline
 The Farewell To the Brethren of St. James’ Lodge, Tarbolton.
 On A Scotch Bard, Gone To The West Indies
 Song—Farewell To Eliza
 A Bard’s Epitaph
 Epitaph For Robert Aiken, Esq.
 Epitaph For Gavin Hamilton, Esq.
 Epitaph On “Wee Johnie”
  The Lass O’ Ballochmyle
 Lines To An Old Sweetheart
 Motto Prefixed To The Author’s First Publication
 Lines To Mr. John Kennedy
 Lines Written On A Banknote
 Stanzas On Naething
 The Farewell
 The Calf
 Nature’s Law—A Poem
 Song—Willie Chalmers
 Reply To A Trimming Epistle Received From A Tailor
 The Brigs Of Ayr
 Fragment Of Song
 Epigram On Rough Roads
 Prayer—O Thou Dread Power
 Song—Farewell To The Banks Of Ayr
 Address To The Toothache
 Lines On Meeting With Lord Daer
 Masonic Song
 Tam Samson’s Elegy
 Epistle To Major Logan
 Fragment On Sensibility
 A Winter Night
 Song—Yon Wild Mossy Mountains
 Address To Edinburgh
 Address To A Haggis

 1787

 To Miss Logan, With Beattie’s Poems, For A New-Year’s Gift, Jan. 1,
   1787.
 Mr. William Smellie—A Sketch
 Rattlin’, Roarin’ Willie
 Song—Bonie Dundee
 Extempore In The Court Of Session
 Inscribed Under Fergusson’s Portrait
 Epistle To Mrs. Scott of Wauchope-House
 Verses Intended To Be Written Below A Noble Earl’s Picture^1
 Prologue, Spoken by Mr. Woods at Edinburgh.
 Song—The Bonie Moor-Hen
 Song—My Lord A-Hunting he is gane
 Epigram At Roslin Inn
 The Book-Worms
 On Elphinstone’s Translation Of Martial’s Epigrams
 Song—A Bottle And Friend
 Lines Written Under The Picture Of The Celebrated Miss Burns
 Epitaph For William Nicol, Of The High School, Edinburgh
 Epitaph For Mr. William Michie
 Boat song—Hey, Ca’ Thro’
 Address To Wm. Tytler, Esq., Of Woodhouselee
 Epigram To Miss Ainslie In Church
 Burlesque Lament For The Absence Of William Creech’ s Absence
 Note To Mr. Renton Of Lamerton
 Elegy On “Stella”
  The Bard At Inverary
 Epigram To Miss Jean Scott
 On The Death Of John M’Leod, Esq,
 Elegy On The Death Of Sir James Hunter Blair
 Impromptu On Carron Iron Works
 To Miss Ferrier
 Written By Somebody On The Window Of an Inn at Stirling
 The Poet’s Reply To The Threat Of A Censorious Critic
 The Libeller’s Self-Reproof
 Verses Written With A Pencil at the Inn at Kenmore
 Song—The Birks Of Aberfeldy
 The Humble Petition Of Bruar Water
 Lines On The Fall Of Fyers Near Loch-Ness.
 Epigram On Parting With A Kind Host In The Highlands
 Song—Strathallan’s Lament
 Verses on Castle Gordon
 Song—Lady Onlie, Honest Lucky
 Song—Theniel Menzies’ Bonie Mary
 The Bonie Lass Of Albany
 On Scaring Some Water-Fowl In Loch-Turit
 Song—Blythe Was She
 Song—A Rose—Bud By My Early Walk
 Epitaph For Mr. W. Cruikshank
 Song—The Banks Of The Devon

 Song—Braving Angry Winter’s Storms
 Song—My Peggy’s Charms
 Song—The Young Highland Rover
 Birthday Ode For 31st December, 1787^1
 On The Death Of Robert Dundas, Esq., Of Arniston,
 Sylvander To Clarinda

 1788
 Song—Love In The Guise Of Friendship
 Song—Go On, Sweet Bird, And Sooth My Care
 Song—Clarinda, Mistress Of My Soul
 Song—I’m O’er Young To Marry Yet
 Song—To The Weavers Gin Ye Go
 Song—M’Pherson’s Farewell
 Song—Stay My Charmer
 Song—My Hoggie
 Song—Raving Winds Around Her Blowing
 Song—Up In The Morning Early
 Song—How Long And Dreary Is The Night
 Song—Hey, The Dusty Miller
 Song—Duncan Davison
 Song—The Lad They Ca’Jumpin John
 Song—Talk Of Him That’s Far Awa
 Song—To Daunton Me
 Song—The Winter It Is Past
 Song—The Bonie Lad That’s Far Awa
 Verses To Clarinda, with Drinking Glasses
 Song—The Chevalier’s Lament
 Epistle To Hugh Parker
 Song—Of A’ The Airts The Wind Can Blaw
 Song—I Hae a Wife O’ My Ain
 Lines Written In Friars’-Carse Hermitage
 To Alex. Cunningham, ESQ., Writer, Edinburgh
 Song.—Anna, Thy Charms
 The Fete Champetre
 Epistle To Robert Graham, Esq., Of Fintry
 Song.—The Day Returns
 Song.—O, Were I On Parnassus Hill
 A Mother’s Lament
 Song—The Fall Of The Leaf
 Song—I Reign In Jeanie’s Bosom
 Song—It Is Na, Jean, Thy Bonie Face
 Song—Auld Lang Syne
 Song—My Bonie Mary
 Verses On Aa Parting Kiss
 Written In Friars Carse Hermitage (Second Version)
 The Poet’s Progress
 Elegy On The Year 1788
 The Henpecked Husband
 Versicles On Sign-Posts

 1789

 Robin Shure In Hairst
 Ode, Sacred To The Memory Of Mrs. Oswald Of Auchencruive
 Pegasus At Wanlockhead
 Sappho Redivivus—A Fragment
 Song—She’s Fair And Fause
 Impromptu Lines To Captain Riddell
 Lines To John M’Murdo, Esq. Of Drumlanrig
 Rhyming Reply To A Note From Captain Riddell
 Caledonia—A Ballad
 Verses To Miss Cruickshank
 Beware O’ Bonie Ann
 Ode On The Departed Regency Bill
 Epistle To James Tennant Of Glenconner
 A New Psalm For The Chapel Of Kilmarnock
 Sketch In Verse Inscribed to the Right Hon. C. J. Fox.
 The Wounded Hare
 Delia, An Ode
 Song—The Gard’ner Wi’ His Paidle
 Song—On A Bank Of Flowers
 Song—Young Jockie Was The Blythest Lad
 Song—The Banks Of Nith
 Song—Jamie, Come Try Me
 Song—I Love My Love In Secret
 Song—Sweet Tibbie Dunbar
 Song—The Captain’s Lady
 Song—John Anderson, My Jo
 Song—My Love, She’s But A Lassie Yet
 Song—Tam Glen
 Song—Carle, An The King Come
 Song—The Laddie’s Dear Sel’
 Song—Whistle O’er The Lave O’t
 Song—My Eppie Adair
 On The Late Captain Grose’s Peregrinations Thro’ Scotland
 Epigram On Francis Grose The Antiquary
 The Kirk Of Scotland’s Alarm
 Sonnet to Robert Graham, Esq., On Receiving A Favour
 Extemporaneous Effusion On being appointed to an Excise division.
 Song—Willie Brew’d A Peck O’ Maut^1
 Song—Ca’ The Yowes To The Knowes
 Song—I Gaed A Waefu’ Gate Yestreen
 Song—Highland Harry Back Again
 Song—The Battle Of Sherramuir
 Song—The Braes O’ Killiecrankie
 Song—Awa’ Whigs, Awa’
 Song—A Waukrife Minnie
 Song—The Captive Ribband
 Song—My Heart’s In The Highlands
 The Whistle—A Ballad
 Song—To Mary In Heaven
 Epistle To Dr. Blacklock
 The Five Carlins
 Election Ballad For Westerha’
 Prologue Spoken At The Theatre Of Dumfries

 1790

 Sketch—New Year’s Day [1790]
 Scots’ Prologue For Mr. Sutherland
 Lines To A Gentleman,
 Elegy On Willie Nicol’s Mare
 Song—The Gowden Locks Of Anna
 Song—I Murder Hate
 Song—Gudewife, Count The Lawin
 Election Ballad At the close of the contest
   for representing the Dumfries Burghs, 1790.
 Elegy On Captain Matthew Henderson
 The Epitaphon Captain Matthew Henderson
 Verses On Captain Grose
 Tam O’ Shanter: A Tale
 On The Birth Of A Posthumous Child
 Elegy On The Late Miss Burnet Of Monboddo

 1791

 Lament Of Mary, Queen Of Scots, On The Approach Of Spring
 There’ll Never Be Peace Till Jamie Comes Hame
 Song—Out Over The Forth
 The Banks O’ Doon (First Version)
 The Banks O’ Doon (Second Version)
 The Banks O’ Doon (Third Version)
 Lament For James, Earl Of Glencairn
 Lines Sent To Sir John Whiteford, Bart
 Song—Craigieburn Wood
 Song—The Bonie Wee Thing
 Epigram On Miss Davies
 Song—The Charms Of Lovely Davies
 Song—What Can A Young Lassie Do Wi’ An Auld Man
 Song—The Posie
 On Glenriddell’s Fox Breaking His Chain
 Poem On Pastoral Poetry
 Verses On The Destruction Of The Woods Near Drumlanrig
 Song—The Gallant Weaver
 Epigram At Brownhill Inn^1
 Song—You’re Welcome, Willie Stewart
 Song—Lovely Polly Stewart
 Song—Fragment,—Damon And Sylvia
 Song—Fragment—Johnie Lad, Cock Up Your Beaver
 Song—My Eppie Macnab
 Song—Fragment—Altho’ He Has Left Me
 Song—O For Ane An’ Twenty, Tam
 Song—Thou Fair Eliza
 Song—My Bonie Bell
 Song—Sweet Afton
 Address To The Shade Of Thomson
 Song—Nithsdale’s Welcome Hame
 Song—Frae The Friends And Land I Love
 Song—Such A Parcel Of Rogues In A Nation
 Song—Ye Jacobites By Name
 Song—I Hae Been At Crookieden
 Epistle To John Maxwell, ESQ., Of Terraughty
 Second Epistle To Robert Graham, ESQ., Of Fintry
 The Song Of Death
 Poem On Sensibility
 Epigram—The Toadeater
 Epigram—Divine Service In The Kirk Of Lamington
 Epigram—The Keekin’-Glass
 A Grace Before Dinner
 A Grace After Dinner
 Song—O May, Thy Morn
 Song—Ae Fond Kiss, And Then We Sever
 Song—Behold The Hour, The Boat, Arrive
 Song—Thou Gloomy December
 Song—My Native Land Sae Far Awa

 1792

 Song—I do Confess Thou Art Sae Fair
 Lines On Fergusson, The Poet
 Song—The Weary Pund O’ Tow
 Song—When She Cam’ Ben She Bobbed
 Song—Scroggam, My Dearie
 Song—My Collier Laddie
 Song—Sic A Wife As Willie Had
 Song—Lady Mary Ann
 Song—Kellyburn Braes
 Song—The Slave’s Lament
 Song—O Can Ye Labour Lea?
 Song—The Deuks Dang O’er My Daddie
 Song—The Deil’s Awa Wi’ The Exciseman
 Song—The Country Lass
 Song—Bessy And Her Spinnin’ Wheel
 Song—Fragment—Love For Love
 Song—Saw Ye Bonie Lesley
 Song—Fragment Of Song
 Song—I’ll Meet Thee On The Lea Rig
 Song—My Wife’s A Winsome Wee Thing
 Song—Highland Mary
 Song—Auld Rob Morris
 The Rights Of Woman—Spoken by Miss Fontenelle
 Epigram On Miss Fontenelle
 Extempore On Some Commemorations Of Thomson
 Song—Duncan Gray
 Song—A Health To Them That’s Awa
 A Tippling Ballad—When Princes and Prelates

 1793

 Song—Poortith Cauld And Restless Love
 Epigram On Politics
 Song—Braw Lads O’ Galla Water
 Sonnet Written On The Author’s Birthday,
 Song—Wandering Willie
 Wandering Willie (Revised Version)
 Lord Gregory: A Ballad
 Song—Open The Door To Me, Oh
 Song—Lovely Young Jessie
 Song—Meg O’ The Mill
 Song—Meg O’ The Mill (Another Version)
 The Soldier’s Return: A Ballad
 Epigram—The True Loyal Natives
 Epigram—On Commissary Goldie’s Brains
 Lines Inscribed In A Lady’s Pocket Almanac
 Epigram—Thanksgiving For A National Victory
 Epigram—The Raptures Of Folly
 Epigram—Kirk and State Excisemen
 Extempore Reply To An Invitation
 A Grace After Meat
 Grace Before And After Meat
 Impromptu On General Dumourier’s Desertion From The French Republican
   Army
 Song—The Last Time I Came O’er The Moor
 Song—Logan Braes
 Song—Blythe Hae I been On Yon Hill
 Song—O Were My Love Yon Lilac Fair
 Bonie Jean—A Ballad
 Lines On John M’Murdo, ESQ.
 Epitaph On A Lap-Dog
 Epigrams Against The Earl Of Galloway
 Epigram On The Laird Of Laggan
 Song—Phillis The Fair
 Song—Had I A Cave
 Song.—By Allan Stream
 Song—Whistle, And I’ll Come To You, My Lad
 Song—Phillis The Queen O’ The Fair
 Song—Come, Let Me Take Thee To My Breast
 Song—Dainty Davie
 Song—Robert Bruce’s March To Bannockburn
 Song—Behold The Hour, The Boat Arrive
 Song—Down The Burn, Davie
 Song—Thou Hast Left Me Ever, Jamie
 Song—Where Are The Joys I have Met?
 Song—Deluded Swain, The Pleasure
 Song—Thine Am I, My Faithful Fair
 Impromptu On Mrs. Riddell’s Birthday
 Song—My Spouse Nancy
 Address Spoken by Miss Fontenelle
 Complimentary Epigram On Maria Riddell

 1794

 Remorseful Apology
 Song—Wilt Thou Be My Dearie?
 Song—A Fiddler In The North
 The Minstrel At Lincluden
 A Vision
 Song—A Red, Red Rose
 Song—Young Jamie, Pride Of A’ The Plain
 Song—The Flowery Banks Of Cree
 Monody On a lady famed for her Caprice.
 The Epitaph On the Same
 Epigram Pinned To Mrs. Walter Riddell’s Carriage
 Epitaph For Mr. Walter Riddell
 Epistle From Esopus To Maria
 Epitaph On A Noted Coxcomb
 Epitaph On Capt. Lascelles
 Epitaph On Wm. Graham, Esq., Of Mossknowe
 Epitaph On John Bushby, Esq., Tinwald Downs
 Sonnet On The Death Of Robert Riddell
 Song—The Lovely Lass O’ Inverness
 Song—Charlie, He’s My Darling
 Song—Bannocks O’ Bear Meal
 Song—The Highland Balou
 The Highland Widow’s Lament
 Song—It Was A’ For Our Rightfu’ King
 Ode For General Washington’s Birthday
 Inscription To Miss Graham Of Fintry
 Song—On The Seas And Far Away
 Song—Ca’ The Yowes To The Knowes
 Song—She Says She Loes Me Best Of A’
 Epigram—On Miss Jessy Staig’s recovery.
 To The Beautiful Miss Eliza J-N On her Principles of Liberty and
   Equality.
 On Chloris Requesting me to give her a Spring of Blossomed Thorn.
 On Seeing Mrs. Kemble In Yarico
 Epigram On A Country Laird (Cardoness)
 Epigram on the Same Laird’s Country Seat
 Epigram on Dr. Babinton’s Looks
 Epigram On A Suicide
 Epigram On A Swearing Coxcomb
 Epigram On An Innkeeper Nicknamed (The Marquis)
 Epigram On Andrew Turner
 Song—Pretty Peg
 Esteem For Chloris
 Song—Saw Ye My Dear, My Philly
 Song—How Lang And Dreary Is The Night
 Song—Inconstancy In Love
 The Lover’s Morning Salute To His Mistress
 Song—The Winter Of Life
 Song—Behold, My Love, How Green The Groves
 Song—The Charming Month Of May
 Song—Lassie Wi’ The Lint-White Locks
 Dialogue song—Philly And Willy
 Song—Contented Wi’ Little And Cantie Wi’ Mair
 Song—Farewell Thou Stream
 Song—Canst Thou Leave Me Thus, My Katie
 Song—My Nanie’s Awa
 Song—The Tear-Drop—Wae is my heart
 Song—For The Sake O’ Somebody

 1795

 Song—A Man’s A Man For A’ That
 The Solemn League And Covenant
 Lines to John Syme with a Dozen of Porter.
 Inscription On Mr. Syme’s Crystal Goblet
 Apology To Mr. Syme For Not Dining with him
 Epitaph For Mr. Gabriel Richardson
 Epigram On Mr. James Gracie
 Song—Bonie Peg-a-Ramsay
 Inscription At Friars’ Carse Hermitage
 Song—Fragment—There Was A Bonie Lass
 Song—Fragment—Wee Willie Gray
 Song—O Aye My Wife She Dang Me
 Song—Gude Ale Keeps The Heart Aboon
 Song—O Steer Her Up An’ Haud Her Gaun
 Song—The Lass O’ Ecclefechan
 Song—O Let Me In Thes Ae Night
 Song—I’ll Aye Ca’ In By Yon Town
 Ballads on Mr. Heron’s Election—Ballad First
 Ballads on Mr. Heron’s Election—Ballad Second
 Ballads on Mr. Heron’s Election—Ballad Third
 Inscription For An Altar Of Independence
 Song—The Cardin O’t, The Spinnin O’t
 Song—The Cooper O’ Cuddy
 Song—The Lass That Made The Bed To Me
 Song—Had I The Wyte? She Bade Me
 Song—Does Haughty Gaul Invasion Threat?
 Song—Address To The Woodlark
 Song.—On Chloris Being Ill
 Song—How Cruel Are The Parents
 Song—Yonder Pomp Of Costly Fashion
 Song—’Twas Na Her Bonie Blue E’e
 Song—Their Groves O’Sweet Myrtle
 Song—Forlorn, My Love, No Comfort Near
 Song—Fragment,—Why, Why Tell The Lover
 Song—The Braw Wooer
 Song—This Is No My Ain Lassie
 Song—O Bonie Was Yon Rosy Brier
 Song—Song Inscribed To Alexander Cunningham
 Song—O That’s The Lassie O’ My Heart

 Inscription to Chloris
 Song—Fragment.—The Wren’s Nest
 Song—News, Lassies, News
 Song—Crowdie Ever Mair
 Song—Mally’s Meek, Mally’s Sweet
 Song—Jockey’s Taen The Parting Kiss
 Verses To Collector Mitchell

 1796

 The Dean Of Faculty
 Epistle To Colonel De Peyster
 Song—A Lass Wi’ A Tocher
 Song—The Trogger.
 Complimentary Versicles To Jessie Lewars
 1. The Toast
 2. The Menagerie
 3. Jessie’s illness
 4. On Her Recovery
 Song—O Lay Thy Loof In Mine, Lass
 Song—A Health To Ane I Loe Dear
 Song—O Wert Thou In The Cauld Blast
 Inscription To Miss Jessy Lewars
 Song—Fairest Maid On Devon Banks
 Glossary

POEMS AND SONGS OF ROBERT BURNS