Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
193 / 519
Public-domain lyrics

Husband, Husband, cease your Strife

Robert Burns

“Husband, Husband, cease your Strife” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 193 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

Husband, husband, cease your strife,

Nor longer idly rave, sir;

Tho' I am your wedded wife,

Yet I am not your slave, sir.

Verse 2

'One of two must still obey,

Nancy, Nancy;

Is it man or woman, say,

My spouse, Nancy?'

Verse 3

If 'tis still the lordly word,

Service and obedience;

I'll desert my sov'reign lord,

And so good-bye allegiance!

Verse 4

'Sad will I be, so bereft,

Nancy, Nancy!

Yet I'll try to make a shift,

My spouse, Nancy.'

Verse 5

My poor heart then break it must,

My last hour I'm near it:

When you lay me in the dust,

Think, think how you will bear it.

Verse 6

'I will hope and trust in Heaven,

Nancy, Nancy;

Strength to bear it will be given,

My spouse, Nancy.'

Verse 7

Well, Sir, from the silent dead

Still I'll try to daunt you;

Ever round your midnight bed

Horrid sprites shall haunt you.

Verse 8

'I'll wed another, like my dear

Nancy, Nancy;

Then all hell will fly for fear,

My spouse, Nancy.'

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), “Husband, Husband, cease your Strife”

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