Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Here's a health 1

Robert Burns

“Here's a health 1” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 39 1843 · historical text
Public domainScottish songFolk
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from The Book of Scottish Song, edited by Alexander Whitelaw, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

Here's a health to them that's awa',

Here's a health to them that's awa';

And wha winna wish guid luck to our cause,

May never guid luck be their fa'!

It's guid to be merry and wise,

It's guid to be honest and true,

It's guid to support Caledonia's cause,

And bide by the buff and the blue.

Here's a health to them that's awa',

Here's a health to them that's awa';

Here's a health to Charlie, the chief o' the clan,

Although that his band be but sma'.

May liberty meet with success!

May prudence protect her frae evil!

May tyrants and tyranny tine in the mist,

And wander their way to the devil!

Here's a health to them that's awa',

Here's a health to them that's awa';

Here's a health to Tammie, the Norland laddie,

That lives at the lug o' the law!

Here's freedom to him that wad read,

Here's freedom to him that wad write!

There's nane ever fear'd that the truth should be heard,

But they wham the truth wad indite.

Here's a health to them that's awa',

Here's a health to them that's awa';

Here's chieftain M'Leod, a chieftain worth gowd,

Though bred amang mountains o' snaw!

Here's a health to them that's awa',

Here's a health to them that's awa';

And wha winna wish guid luck to our cause,

May never guid luck be their fa'!

Credits

Written by Robert Burns

Words by Robert Burns. Historical text published in The Book of Scottish Song (1843); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

The Book of Scottish Song (1843), edited by Alexander Whitelaw, “Here's a health 1”

Every contribution in this 1843 anthology predates modern copyright terms by more than a century; any contributor died at least 130 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide (life+70 terms expired no later than 2020).

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 2026-10-12. 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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