Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Gane is the Day

Robert Burns

“Gane is the Day” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 175 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

Gane is the day, and mirk's the night,

But we'll ne'er stray for faute o' light,

For ale and brandy's stars and moon,

And bluid-red wine's the risin sun.

Verse 2

CHORUS.

Then guidwife count the lawin, the lawin, the lawin,

Then guidwife count the lawin, and bring a coggie mair.

Verse 3

There's wealth and ease for gentlemen,

And semple-folk maun fecht and fen',

But here we're a' in ae accord,

For ilka man that's drunk's a lord.

Then guidwife count, &c.

Verse 4

My coggie is a haly pool,

That heals the wounds o' care and dool;

And pleasure is a wanton trout,

An' ye drink it a' ye'll find him out.

Then guidwife count, &c.

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), “Gane is the Day”

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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