Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Here's to thy Health, my bonie Lass

Robert Burns

“Here's to thy Health, my bonie Lass” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 186 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 to thy health, my bonie lass,

Gude night, and joy be wi' thee;

I'll come nae mair to thy bower door,

To tell thee that I lo'e thee.

O dinna think, my pretty pink,

But I can live without thee:

I vow and swear I dinna care

How lang ye look about ye.

Verse 2

Thou'rt ay sae free informing me

Thou hast nae mind to marry;

I'll be as free informing thee

Nae time hae I to tarry.

I ken thy friends try ilka means,

Frae wedlock to delay thee;

Depending on some higher chance—

But fortune may betray thee.

Verse 3

I ken they scorn my low estate,

But that does never grieve me;

But I'm as free as any he,

Sma' siller will relieve me.

I count my health my greatest wealth,

Sae lang as I'll enjoy it:

I'll fear nae scant, I'll bode nae want,

As lang's I get employment.

Verse 4

But far aff fowls hae feathers fair,

And ay until ye try them:

Tho' they seem fair, still have a care,

They may prove waur than I am.

But at twal at night, when the moon shines bright,

My dear, I'll come and see thee;

For the man that lo'es his mistress weel

Nae travel makes him weary.

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 to thy Health, my bonie Lass”

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

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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

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