Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Farewell to Eliza

Robert Burns

“Farewell to Eliza” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 165 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

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.

Verse 2

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 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), “Farewell to Eliza”

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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