Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Eppie M'Nab

Robert Burns

“Eppie M'Nab” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 160 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

O saw ye my dearie, my Eppie M'Nab?

O saw ye my dearie, my Eppie M'Nab?

She's down in the yard, she's kissin' the laird,

She winna come hame to her ain Jock Rab.

O come thy ways to me, my Eppie M'Nab!

O come thy ways to me, my Eppie M'Nab!

Whate'er thou hast done, be it late, be it soon,

Thou's welcome again to thy ain Jock Rab.

Verse 2

What says she, my dearie, my Eppie M'Nab?

What says she, my dearie, my Eppie M'Nab?

She lets thee to wit, that she has thee forgot,

And for ever disowns thee, her ain Jock Rab.

O had I ne'er seen thee, my Eppie M'Nab!

O had I ne'er seen thee, my Eppie M'Nab!

As light as the air, and fause as thou's fair,

Thou's broken the heart o' thy ain Jock Rab.

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), “Eppie M'Nab”

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

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