Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
184 / 519
Public-domain lyrics

Here's a Health to them that's awa

Robert Burns

“Here's a Health to them that's awa” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 184 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

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.

Verse 2

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,

Altho' that his band be sma'.

May liberty meet wi' success!

May prudence protect her frae evil!

May tyrants and tyranny tine in the mist,

And wander their way to the devil!

Verse 3

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,

Tho' bred among mountains o' snaw!

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), “Here's a Health to them that's awa”

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