Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

I'll aye ca' in

Robert Burns

“I'll aye ca' in” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 44 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

"I'll gang nae mair to yon toun,

O, never a' my life again;

I'll ne'er gae back to yon toun,

To seek anither wife again."

Verse 2

I'll aye ca' in by yon toun,

And by yon garden green again;

I'll aye ca' in by yon toun,

And see my bonnie Jean again.

There's nane shall ken, there's nane shall guess,

What brings me back the gate again,

But she, my fairest faithfu' lass;

And stowlins we shall meet again.

She'll wander by the aiken tree,

When trystin time draws near again;

And when her lovely form I see,

O haith, she's doubly dear again.

I'll aye ca' in by yon toun,

And by yon garden green again;

I'll aye ca' in by yon toun,

And see my bonnie Jean again.

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, “I'll aye ca' in”

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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