Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Hee Balou

Robert Burns

“Hee Balou” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 182 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

Hee balou! my sweet wee Donald,

Picture o' the great Clanronald;

Brawlie kens our wanton chief

Wha got my young Highland thief.

Verse 2

Leeze me on thy bonie craigie,

An' thou live, thou'll steal a naigie:

Travel the country thro' and thro',

And bring hame a Carlisle cow.

Verse 3

Thro' the Lawlands, o'er the border,

Weel, my babie, may thou furder:

Herry the louns o' the laigh countree,

Syne to the Highlands hame to me.

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), “Hee Balou”

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.

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