Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
136 / 519
Public-domain lyrics

Craigie-burn-wood

Robert Burns

“Craigie-burn-wood” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 136 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

CHORUS.

Beyond thee, dearie, beyond thee, dearie,

And O to be lying beyond thee,

O sweetly, soundly, weel may he sleep,

That's laid in the bed beyond thee.

Verse 2

Sweet closes the evening on Craigie-burn-wood,

And blythely awakens the morrow;

But the pride of the spring in the Craigie-burn-wood

Can yield to me nothing but sorrow.

Beyond thee, &c.

Verse 3

I see the spreading leaves and flowers,

I hear the wild birds singing;

But pleasure they hae nane for me,

While care my heart is wringing.

Beyond thee, &c.

Verse 4

I canna tell, I maun na tell,

I dare na for your anger;

But secret love will break my heart

If I conceal it langer.

Beyond thee, &c.

Verse 5

I see thee gracefu', straight and tall,

I see thee sweet and bonie,

If thou refuse thy Johnie!

But oh, what will my torments be,

Beyond thee, &c.

Verse 6

To see thee in anither's arms,

In love to lie and languish,

'Twad be my dead, that will be seen,

My heart wad burst wi' anguish.

Beyond thee, &c.

Verse 7

But Jeanie, say thou wilt be mine,

Say, thou lo'es nane before me;

An' a' my days o' life to come,

I'll gratefully adore thee.

Beyond thee, &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), “Craigie-burn-wood”

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