Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

An excellent new Song. Third Ballad

Robert Burns

“An excellent new Song. Third Ballad” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 110 1887 · historical text
Public domainScottish songSong lyrics
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from The Poetical Works of Robert Burns, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

Wha will buy my troggin,

Fine election ware;

Broken trade o' Broughton,

A' in high repair.

Buy braw troggin,

Frae the banks o' Dee;

Wha wants troggin

Let him come to me.

Verse 2

There's a noble Earl's

Fame and high renown,

For an auld sang—

It's thought the gudes were stown.

Buy braw troggin, &c.

Verse 3

Here's the worth o' Broughton

In a needle's ee;

Here's a reputation

Tint by Balmaghie.

Buy braw troggin, &c.

Verse 4

Here's an honest conscience

Might a prince adorn;

Frae the downs o' Tinwald—

So was never worn.

Buy braw troggin, &c.

Verse 5

Here's its stuff and lining,

Cardoness' head;

Fine for a sodger

A' the wale o' lead.

Buy braw troggin, &c.

Verse 6

Here's a little wadset

Buittles scrap o' truth,

Pawn'd in a gin-shop

Quenching holy drouth.

Buy braw troggin, &c.

Verse 7

Here's armorial bearings

Frae the manse o' Urr;

The crest, an auld crab-apple

Rotten at the core.

Buy braw troggin, &c.

Verse 8

Here is Satan's picture,

Like a bizzard gled,

Pouncing poor Redcastle

Sprawlin' as a taed.

Buy braw troggin, &c.

Verse 9

Here's the worth and wisdom

Collieston can boast;

By a thievish midge

They had been nearly lost.

Buy braw troggin, &c.

Verse 10

Here is Murray's fragments

O' the ten commands;

Gifted by black Jock

To get them aff his hands.

Buy braw troggin, &c.

Verse 11

Saw ye e'er sic troggin?

If to buy ye're slack,

Hornie's turnin' chapman,—

He'll buy a' the pack.

Buy braw troggin, &c.

Credits

Written by Robert Burns

Words by Robert Burns. Historical text published in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887), “An excellent new Song. Third Ballad”

Every text in this 1887 collected edition is by Robert Burns (1759-1796), who died more than 230 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide; the edition carries a Wikisource PD-old determination and a pre-1931 United States publication.

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-25. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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