Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Charming Month of May

Robert Burns

“Charming Month of May” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 130 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

It was the charming month of May,

When all the flowers were fresh and gay,

One morning, by the break of day,

The youthful, charming Chloe;

From peaceful slumber she arose,

Girt on her mantle and her hose,

And o'er the flowery mead she goes,

The youthful, charming Chloe.

Verse 2

Chorus.

Lovely was she by the dawn,

Youthful Chloe, charming Chloe,

Tripping o'er the pearly lawn,

The youthful, charming Chloe.

Verse 3

The feather'd people you might see

Perch'd all around on every tree,

In notes of sweetest melody

They hail the charming Chloe;

Till, painting gay the eastern skies,

The glorious sun began to rise,

Out-rival'd by the radiant eyes

Of youthful, charming Chloe.

Lovely was she, &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), “Charming Month of May”

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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