Poems and Songs of Robert Burns
Robert Burns was born near Ayr, Scotland, 25th of January, 1759. He was the son of William Burnes, or Burness, at the time of the poet’s birth a nurseryman on the banks of the Doon in Ayrshire. His father, though always extremely poor, attempted to give his children a fair education, and Robert, who was the eldest, went to school for three years in a neighboring village, and later, for shorter periods, to three other schools in the vicinity. But it was to his father and to his own reading that he owed the more important part of his education; and by the time that he had reached manhood he had a good knowledge of English, a reading knowledge of French, and a fairly wide acquaintance with the masterpieces of English literature from the time of Shakespeare to his own day. In 1766 William Burness rented on borrowed money the farm of Mount Oliphant, and in taking his share in the effort to make this undertaking succeed, the future poet seems to have seriously overstrained his physique. In 1771 the family move to Lochlea, and Burns went to the neighboring town of Irvine to learn flax-dressing. The only result of this experiment, however, was the formation of an acquaintance with a dissipated sailor, whom he afterward blamed as the prompter of his first licentious adventures. His father died in 1784, and with his brother Gilbert the poet rented the farm of Mossgiel; but this venture was as unsuccessful as the others. He had meantime formed an irregular intimacy with Jean Armour, for which he was censured by the Kirk-session. As a result of his farming misfortunes, and the attempts of his father-in-law to overthrow his irregular marriage with Jean, he resolved to emigrate; and in order to raise money for the passage he published (Kilmarnock, 1786) a volume of the poems which he had been composing from time to time for some years. This volume was unexpectedly successful, so that, instead of sailing for the West Indies, he went up to Edinburgh, and during that winter he was the chief literary celebrity of the season. An enlarged edition of his poems was published there in 1787, and the money derived from this enabled him to aid his brother in Mossgiel, and to take and stock for himself the farm of Ellisland in Dumfriesshire. His fame as poet had reconciled the Armours to the connection, and having now regularly married Jean, he brought her to Ellisland, and once more tried farming for three years. Continued ill-success, however, led him, in 1791, to abandon Ellisland, and he moved to Dumfries, where he had obtained a position in the Excise. But he was now thoroughly discouraged; his work was mere drudgery; his tendency to take his relaxation in debauchery increased the weakness of a constitution early undermined; and he died at Dumfries in his thirty-eighth year.
Robert Burns
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Preface
1771 - 1779
Song—O Tibbie, I Hae Seen The Day
Song—I Dream’d I Lay
Song—In The Character Of A Ruined Farmer
Tragic Fragment
Tarbolton Lasses, The
Montgomerie’s Peggy
Ploughman’s Life, The
1780
Ronalds Of The Bennals, The
Song—Here’s To Thy Health
Song—Bonie Peggy Alison
Song—Mary Morison
1781
Winter: A Dirge
Prayer, Under The Pressure Of Violent Anguish
Paraphrase Of The First Psalm
First Six Verses Of The Ninetieth Psalm Versified, The
Prayer, In The Prospect Of Death
Stanzas, On The Same Occasion
1782
Fickle Fortune: A Fragment
Raging Fortune—Fragment Of Song
Impromptu—“I’ll Go And Be A Sodger”
Song—“No Churchman Am I”
A Stanza Added In A Mason Lodge
My Father Was A Farmer
John Barleycorn: A Ballad
1783
Death And Dying Words Of Poor Mailie, The Author’s Only Pet Yowe., The
An Unco Mournfu’ Tale
Poor Mailie’s Elegy
Song—The Rigs O’ Barley
Song Composed In August
Song
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 Ever Honoured Father
Ballad On The American War
Reply To An Announcement By J. Rankine On His Writing To The Poet,
Epistle To John Rankine
Fragment—The Mauchline Lady
Fragment—My Girl She’s Airy
The Belles Of Mauchline
Epitaph On A Noisy Polemic
Epitaph On A Henpecked Country Squire
Epigram On The Said Occasion
Another
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
Postcript
One Night As I Did Wander
Tho’ Cruel Fate Should Bid Us Part
Epistle To John Goldie, In Kilmarnock
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
To A Mouse, On Turning Her Up In Her Nest With The Plough, November, 1785
Epitaph On John Dove, Innkeeper
Epitaph For James Smith
Adam Armour’s Prayer
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 Author’s Earnest Cry And Prayer
The Ordination
Epistle To James Smith
The Vision
Suppressed Stanza’s Of “The Vision”
Address To The Unco Guid, Or The Rigidly Righteous
To John Kennedy, Dumfries House
To Mr. M’Adam, Of Craigen-Gillan
To A Louse, On Seeing One On A Lady’s Bonnet, At Church
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,
Versified Reply To An Invitation
Song—Will Ye Go To The Indies, My Mary?
Song—My Highland Lassie, O
Epistle To A Young Friend
Address Of Beelzebub
A Dream
A Dedication
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 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
Thomson’s Edward and Eleanora.
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
Farewell Song To The Banks Of Ayr
Address To The Toothache
Masonic Song
Tam Samson’s Elegy
The Epitaph
Per Contra
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
Song—Bonie Dundee
Extempore In The Court Of Session
Epistle To Mrs. Scott
Prologue
The Bonie Moor-Hen
Song—My Lord A-Hunting
Epigram At Roslin Inn
Epigram Addressed To An Artist
The Book-Worms
On Elphinstone’s Translation Of Martial’s Epigrams
Song—A Bottle And Friend
Epitaph For William Nicol, Of The High School, Edinburgh
Epitaph For Mr. William Michie
Address To Wm. Tytler, Esq., Of Woodhouselee
Epigram To Miss Ainslie In Church
Burlesque Lament For The Absence Of William Creech, Publisher
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,
Brother to a young Lady, a particular friend of the Author’s.
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, on seeing the Royal Palace in ruin.
The Poet’s Reply To The Threat Of A Censorious Critic
Verses Written With A Pencil
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
Castle Gordon
Song—Lady Onlie, Honest Lucky
Theniel Menzies’ Bonie Mary
On Scaring Some Water-Fowl In Loch-Turit
A Rose-Bud By My Early Walk
Song—The Banks Of The Devon
Braving Angry Winter’s Storms
Song—My Peggy’s Charms
The Young Highland Rover
On The Death Of Robert Dundas, Esq., Of Arniston,
1788
Love In The Guise Of Friendship
Go On, Sweet Bird, And Sooth My Care
Clarinda, Mistress Of My Soul
I’m O’er Young To Marry Yet
To The Weavers Gin Ye Go
M’Pherson’s Farewell
Stay My Charmer
Song—My Hoggie
Raving Winds Around Her Blowing
Up In The Morning Early
Hey, The Dusty Miller
Duncan Davison
The Lad They Ca’Jumpin John
Talk Of Him That’s Far Awa
To Daunton Me
The Winter It Is Past
The Bonie Lad That’s Far Awa
Verses To Clarinda
The Chevalier’s Lament
Epistle To Hugh Parker
Song—I Hae a Wife O’ My Ain
Lines Written In Friars’-Carse Hermitage
To Alex. Cunningham, ESQ., Writer
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
The Fall Of The Leaf
I Reign In Jeanie’s Bosom
Auld Lang Syne
My Bonie Mary
The Parting Kiss
Written In Friar’s-Carse Hermitage
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
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
On the Thanksgiving-Day for His Majesty’s Recovery.
Sketch In Verse
The Wounded Hare
Delia, An Ode
The Gard’ner Wi’ His Paidle
On A Bank Of Flowers
Young Jockie Was The Blythest Lad
The Banks Of Nith
Jamie, Come Try Me
I Love My Love In Secret
Sweet Tibbie Dunbar
The Captain’s Lady
John Anderson, My Jo
My Love, She’s But A Lassie Yet
Song—Tam Glen
Carle, An The King Come
The Laddie’s Dear Sel’
Whistle O’er The Lave O’t
My Eppie Adair
On The Late Captain Grose’s Peregrinations Thro’ Scotland
Epigram On Francis Grose The Antiquary
The Kirk Of Scotland’s Alarm
Presentation Stanzas To Correspondents
Sonnet On Receiving A Favour
Extemporaneous Effusion
Ca’ The Yowes To The Knowes
I Gaed A Waefu’ Gate Yestreen
Highland Harry Back Again
The Battle Of Sherramuir
The Braes O’ Killiecrankie
Awa’ Whigs, Awa’
A Waukrife Minnie
The Captive Ribband
My Heart’s In The Highlands
The Whistle—A Ballad
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
The Gowden Locks Of Anna
Postscript
Song—I Murder Hate
Gudewife, Count The Lawin
Election Ballad
Elegy On Captain Matthew Henderson
The Epitaph
Verses On Captain Grose
Tam O’ Shanter
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
Craigieburn Wood
Epigram On Miss Davies
On being asked why she had been formed so little, and Mrs. A—so big.
The Charms Of Lovely Davies
What Can A Young Lassie Do Wi’ An Auld Man
The Posie
On Glenriddell’s Fox Breaking His Chain
Poem On Pastoral Poetry
Verses On The Destruction Of The Woods Near Drumlanrig
The Gallant Weaver
Lovely Polly Stewart
Fragment,—Damon And Sylvia
Johnie Lad, Cock Up Your Beaver
My Eppie Macnab
Altho’ He Has Left Me
My Tocher’s The Jewel
O For Ane An’ Twenty, Tam
Thou Fair Eliza
My Bonie Bell
Sweet Afton
Address To The Shade Of Thomson
Nithsdale’s Welcome Hame
Frae The Friends And Land I Love
Such A Parcel Of Rogues In A Nation
Ye Jacobites By Name
I Hae Been At Crookieden
O Kenmure’s On And Awa, Willie
Epistle To John Maxwell, ESQ., Of Terraughty
Second Epistle To Robert Graham, ESQ., Of Fintry
The Song Of Death
Poem On Sensibility
The Toadeater
Divine Service In The Kirk Of Lamington
The Keekin’-Glass
A Grace Before Dinner, Extempore
A Grace After Dinner, Extempore
O May, Thy Morn
Ae Fond Kiss, And Then We Sever
Behold The Hour, The Boat, Arrive
Thou Gloomy December
My Native Land Sae Far Awa
1792
I do Confess Thou Art Sae Fair
Lines On Fergusson, The Poet
The Weary Pund O’ Tow
When She Cam’ Ben She Bobbed
Scroggam, My Dearie
My Collier Laddie
Sic A Wife As Willie Had
Lady Mary Ann
Kellyburn Braes
The Slave’s Lament
O Can Ye Labour Lea?
The Deuks Dang O’er My Daddie
The Deil’s Awa Wi’ The Exciseman
The Country Lass
Bessy And Her Spinnin’ Wheel
Love For Love
Saw Ye Bonie Lesley
Fragment Of Song
I’ll Meet Thee On The Lea Rig
My Wife’s A Winsome Wee Thing
Highland Mary
Auld Rob Morris
The Rights Of Woman
Epigram On Seeing Miss Fontenelle In A Favourite Character
Extempore On Some Commemorations Of Thomson
Duncan Gray
Here’s A Health To Them That’s Awa
A Tippling Ballad
1793
Poortith Cauld And Restless Love
On Politics
Braw Lads O’ Galla Water
Sonnet Written On The Author’s Birthday,
Wandering Willie—First Version
Wandering Willie—Revised Version
Lord Gregory
Open The Door To Me, Oh
Lovely Young Jessie
Meg O’ The Mill
Meg O’ The Mill—Another Version
The Soldier’s Return
Versicles, A.D. 1793
The True Loyal Natives
On Commissary Goldie’s Brains
Lines Inscribed In A Lady’s Pocket Almanac
Thanksgiving For A National Victory
Lines On The Commemoration Of Rodney’s Victory
The Raptures Of Folly
Kirk and State Excisemen
Extempore Reply To An Invitation
Grace After Meat
Grace Before And After Meat
Impromptu On General Dumourier’s Desertion From The French Republican Army
The Last Time I Came O’er The Moor
Logan Braes
Blythe Hae I been On Yon Hill
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
Whistle, And I’ll Come To You, My Lad
Phillis The Queen O’ The Fair
Come, Let Me Take Thee To My Breast
Dainty Davie
Robert Bruce’s March To Bannockburn
Behold The Hour, The Boat Arrive
Down The Burn, Davie
Thou Hast Left Me Ever, Jamie
Where Are The Joys I have Met?
Deluded Swain, The Pleasure
Thine Am I, My Faithful Fair
On Mrs. Riddell’s Birthday
My Spouse Nancy
Address
Complimentary Epigram On Maria Riddell
1794
Remorseful Apology
Wilt Thou Be My Dearie?
A Fiddler In The North
The Minstrel At Lincluden
A Vision
A Red, Red Rose
Young Jamie, Pride Of A’ The Plain
The Flowery Banks Of Cree
Monody
The Epitaph
Pinned To Mrs. Walter Riddell’s Carriage
Epitaph For Mr. Walter Riddell
Epistle From Esopus To Maria
Epitaph On A Noted Coxcomb
On Capt. Lascelles
On Wm. Graham, Esq., Of Mossknowe
On John Bushby, Esq., Tinwald Downs
Sonnet On The Death Of Robert Riddell
The Lovely Lass O’ Inverness
Charlie, He’s My Darling
Bannocks O’ Bear Meal
The Highland Balou
The Highland Widow’s Lament
It Was A’ For Our Rightfu’ King
Ode For General Washington’s Birthday
Inscription To Miss Graham Of Fintry
On The Seas And Far Away
Ca’ The Yowes To The Knowes—Second Version
She Says She Loes Me Best Of A’
To Dr. Maxwell
To The Beautiful Miss Eliza J—N
On Chloris
On Seeing Mrs. Kemble In Yarico
Epigram On A Country Laird,
On Being Shewn A Beautiful Country Seat
On Hearing It Asserted Falsehood
On A Suicide
On A Swearing Coxcomb
On An Innkeeper Nicknamed “The Marquis”
On Andrew Turner
Pretty Peg
Esteem For Chloris
Saw Ye My Dear, My Philly
How Lang And Dreary Is The Night
Inconstancy In Love
The Lover’s Morning Salute To His Mistress
The Winter Of Life
Behold, My Love, How Green The Groves
The Charming Month Of May
Lassie Wi’ The Lint-White Locks
Dialogue song—Philly And Willy
Contented Wi’ Little And Cantie Wi’ Mair
Farewell Thou Stream
Canst Thou Leave Me Thus, My Katie
My Nanie’s Awa
The Tear-Drop
For The Sake O’ Somebody
1795
A Man’s A Man For A’ That
Craigieburn Wood
Versicles of 1795
The Solemn League And Covenant
Lines sent with a Present of a Dozen of Porter.
Inscription On A Goblet
Apology For Declining An Invitation To Dine
Epitaph For Mr. Gabriel Richardson
Epigram On Mr. James Gracie
Bonie Peg-a-Ramsay
Inscription At Friars’ Carse Hermitage
There Was A Bonie Lass
Wee Willie Gray
O Aye My Wife She Dang Me
Gude Ale Keeps The Heart Aboon
O Steer Her Up An’ Haud Her Gaun
The Lass O’ Ecclefechan
O Let Me In Thes Ae Night
Her Answer
I’ll Aye Ca’ In By Yon Town
O Wat Ye Wha’s In Yon Town
Ballads on Mr. Heron’s Election, 1795
Inscription For An Altar Of Independence
The Cardin O’t, The Spinnin O’t
The Cooper O’ Cuddy
The Lass That Made The Bed To Me
Had I The Wyte? She Bade Me
Does Haughty Gaul Invasion Threat?
Address To The Woodlark
Song.—On Chloris Being Ill
How Cruel Are The Parents
Mark Yonder Pomp Of Costly Fashion
’Twas Na Her Bonie Blue E’e
Their Groves O’Sweet Myrtle
Forlorn, My Love, No Comfort Near
Fragment,—Why, Why Tell The Lover
The Braw Wooer
This Is No My Ain Lassie
O Bonie Was Yon Rosy Brier
Song Inscribed To Alexander Cunningham
O That’s The Lassie O’ My Heart
Inscription
Fragment.—Leezie Lindsay
Fragment.—The Wren’s Nest
News, Lassies, News
Crowdie Ever Mair
Mally’s Meek, Mally’s Sweet
Jockey’s Taen The Parting Kiss
Verses To Collector Mitchell
Postscript
1796
The Dean Of Faculty
Epistle To Colonel De Peyster
A Lass Wi’ A Tocher
Heron Election Ballad, No. IV.
Complimentary Versicles To Jessie Lewars
O Lay Thy Loof In Mine, Lass
A Health To Ane I Loe Dear
O Wert Thou In The Cauld Blast
Inscription To Miss Jessy Lewars
Fairest Maid On Devon Banks
Glossary
