Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Bonie Bell

Robert Burns

“Bonie Bell” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 124 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

The smiling spring comes in rejoicing,

And surly winter grimly flies:

Now crystal clear are the falling waters,

And bonie blue are the sunny skies;

Fresh o'er the mountains breaks forth the morning,

The ev'ning gilds the ocean's swell;

All creatures joy in the sun's returning,

And I rejoice in my bonie Bell.

Verse 2

The flowery spring leads sunny summer,

And yellow autumn presses near,

Then in his turn comes gloomy winter,

Till smiling spring again appear.

Thus seasons dancing, life advancing,

Old Time and Nature their changes tell,

But never ranging, still unchanging

I adore my bonie Bell.

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), “Bonie Bell”

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.
Keep tracing

More from Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics.

01A Rose-budPublic-domain lyrics02A red, red RosePublic-domain lyrics03Address to a LadyPublic-domain lyrics04AdieuPublic-domain lyrics