Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
157 / 519
Public-domain lyrics

Epitaph on Holy Willie

Robert Burns

“Epitaph on Holy Willie” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 157 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

Here Holy Willie's sair worn clay

Taks up its last abode;

His saul has taen some other way,

I fear the left-hand road.

Verse 2

Stop! there he is, as sure's a gun,

Poor silly body, see him;

Nae wonder he's as black's the grun,

Observe wha's standing wi' him.

Verse 3

Your brunstane devilship, I see,

Has got him there before ye;

But haud your nine-tail cat a-wee,

Till ance you've heard my story.

Verse 4

Your pity I will not implore,

For pity ye have nane;

Justice, alas! has gi'en him o'er,

And mercy's day is gane.

Verse 5

But hear me, Sir, deil as ye are,

Look something to your credit;

A coof like him wad stain your name,

If it were kent ye did it.

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), “Epitaph on Holy Willie”

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