Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Captain Grose

Robert Burns

“Captain Grose” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 129 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

Ken ye ought o' Captain Grose?

Igo, and ago,

If he's amang his friends or foes?

Iram, coram, dago.

Verse 2

Is he South, or is he North?

Igo, and ago,

Or drowned in the river Forth?

Iram, coram, dago.

Verse 3

Is he slain by Highland bodies?

Igo, and ago,

And eaten like a wether-haggis?

Iram, coram, dago.

Verse 4

Is he to Abram's bosom gane?

Igo, and ago,

Or haudin Sarah by the wame?

Iram, coram, dago.

Verse 5

Where'er he be, the Lord be near him!

Igo, and ago,

As for the deil, he daur na steer him.

Iram, coram, dago.

Verse 6

But please transmit th' enclosed letter,

Igo, and ago,

Which will oblige your humble debtor.

Iram, coram, dago.

Verse 7

So may ye hae auld stanes in store,

Igo, and ago,

The very stanes that Adam bore.

Iram, coram, dago.

Verse 8

So may ye get in glad possession,

Igo, and ago,

The coins o' Satan's coronation!

Iram, coram, dago.

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), “Captain Grose”

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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