Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
168 / 519
Public-domain lyrics

For the sake of Somebody

Robert Burns

“For the sake of Somebody” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 168 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

My heart is sair, I dare na tell,

My heart is sair for somebody;

I could wake a winter night,

For the sake o' somebody!

Oh-hon! for somebody!

Oh-hey! for somebody!

I could range the world around,

For the sake o' somebody.

Verse 2

Ye powers that smile on virtuous love,

O, sweetly smile on somebody!

Frae ilka danger keep him free,

And send me safe my somebody.

Oh-hon! for somebody!

Oh-hey! for somebody!

I wad do—what wad I not?

For the sake o' somebody!

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), “For the sake of Somebody”

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