Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Eliza

Robert Burns

“Eliza” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 34 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

From thee, Eliza, I must go,

And from my native shore;

The cruel fates between us throw

A boundless ocean's roar:

But boundless oceans, roaring wide

Between my love and me,

They never, never can divide

My heart and soul from thee.

Farewell, farewell, Eliza dear,

The maid that I adore!

A boding voice is in mine ear,

We part to meet no more.

But the last throb that leaves my heart,

While death stands victor by,

That throb, Eliza, is thy part,

And thine that latest sigh.

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, “Eliza”

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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