Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Birks of Aberfeldy

Robert Burns

“Birks of Aberfeldy” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 18 1843 · historical text
Public domainScottish songFolk
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from The Book of Scottish Song, edited by Alexander Whitelaw, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

Bonnie lassie, will ye go,

Will ye go, will ye go,

Bonnie lassie, will ye go

To the birks of Aberfeldy?

Now simmer blinks on flowery braes,

And o'er the crystal streamlet plays;

Come let us spend the lichtsome days

In the birks of Aberfeldy.

Bonnie lassie, &c.

While o'er their head the hazels hing,

The little burdies blythely sing,

Or lichtly flit on wanton wing,

In the birks of Aberfeldy.

Bonnie lassie, &c.

The braes ascend like lofty wa's,

The foamin' stream deep-roaring fa's,

O'erhung wi' fragrant spreadin' shaws,

The birks of Aberfeldy.

Bonnie lassie, &c.

The hoary cliffs are crown'd wi' flow'rs,

White ower the linn the burnie pours,

And, risin', weets wi' misty show'rs

The birks of Aberfeldy.

Bonnie lassie, &c.

Let fortune's gift at random flee,

They ne'er shall draw a wish frae me,

Supremely bless'd wi' love and thee,

In the birks of Aberfeldy.

Bonnie lassie, &c.

Credits

Written by Robert Burns

Words by Robert Burns. Historical text published in The Book of Scottish Song (1843); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

The Book of Scottish Song (1843), edited by Alexander Whitelaw, “Birks of Aberfeldy”

Every contribution in this 1843 anthology predates modern copyright terms by more than a century; any contributor died at least 130 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide (life+70 terms expired no later than 2020).

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 2026-10-12. 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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