Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

John Highlandman

Robert Burns

“John Highlandman” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 51 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

A Highland lad my love was born,

The Lawland laws he held in scorn;

But he still was faithful to his clan,

My gallant, braw John Highlandman!

Sing hey, my braw John Highlandman!

Sing ho, my braw John Highlandman!

There's not a lad in a' the land,

Was match for my John Highlandman!

With his philabeg and tartan plaid,

And gude claymore down by his side,

The ladies' hearts he did trepan,

My gallant braw John Highlandman.

We ranged a' from Tweed to Spey,

And lived like lords and ladies gay;

For a Lawland face he feared none,

My gallant braw John Highlandman.

They banish'd him beyond the sea;

But, ere the bud was on the tree,

Adown my checks the pearls ran,

Embracing my John Highlandman.

But, och! they catched him at the last,

And bound him in a dungeon fast;

My curse upon them every one,

They've hang'd my braw John Highlandman!

And now, a widow, I must mourn

Departed joys that ne'er return,

No comfort but a hearty can,

When I think on John Highlandman.

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, “John Highlandman”

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.
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