Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Elegy on the Death of Robert Ruisseaux

Robert Burns

“Elegy on the Death of Robert Ruisseaux” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 144 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

Now Robin lies in his last lair,

He'll gabble rhyme, nor sing nae mair,

Cauld poverty, wi' hungry stare,

Nae mair shall fear him:

Nor anxious fear, nor cankert care,

E'er mair come near him.

Verse 2

To tell the truth, they seldom fash't him,

Except the moment that they crush't him;

For sune as chance or fate had husht 'em,

Tho' e'er sae short,

Then wi' a rhyme or sang he lasht 'em,

And thought it sport.

Verse 3

Tho' he was bred to kintra wark,

And counted was baith wight and stark,

Yet that was never Robin's mark

To mak a man;

But tell him, he was learn'd and clark,

Ye roos'd him than!

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), “Elegy on the Death of Robert Ruisseaux”

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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