Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Craigie-burn-wood 1

Robert Burns

“Craigie-burn-wood 1” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 29 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

Sweet closes the evening on Craigie-burn-wood,

And blithely awaukens the morrow;

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

Can yield to me nothing but sorrow.

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!

I see the spreading leaves and flowers,

I hear the wild birds singing;

But pleasure they ha'e nane for me,

While care my heart is wringing.

I canna tell, I winna tell,

I darena for your anger;

But secret love will break my heart,

If I conceal it langer.

I see thee gracefu', straight, and tall,

I see thee sweet and bonnie;

But oh, what will my torments be,

If thou refuse thy Johnnie!

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.

But, Jeanie, say thou wilt be mine,

Say, thou lo'es nane before me;

And a' my days o' life to come

I'll gratefully adore thee.

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!

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, “Craigie-burn-wood 1”

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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