Robert Burns Jr.: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Ha'e ye seen 1

Robert Burns Jr.

“Ha'e ye seen 1” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Robert Burns Jr.: Collected Lyrics Text 1 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

Ha'e ye seen, in the calm dewy morning,

The red-breast wild warbling sae clear;

Or the low-dwelling, snow-breasted gowan,

Surcharg'd wi' mild e'ening's soft tear?

O, then ye ha'e seen my dear lassie,

The lassie I lo'e best of a';

But far frae the hame o' my lassie,

I'm mony a lang mile awa'.

Her hair is the wing o' the blackbird,

Her eye is the eye o' the dove,

Her lips are the ripe blushing rose-bud,

Her bosom's the palace of love.

Though green be thy banks, sweet Clutha!

Thy beauties ne'er charm me ava;

Forgive me, ye maids o' sweet Clutha,

My heart is wi' her that's awa'.

O love, thou'rt a dear fleeting pleasure!

The sweetest we mortals here know;

But soon is thy heav'n, bright beaming,

O'ercast with the darkness of woe.

As the moon, on the oft-changing ocean,

Delights the lone mariner's eye,

Till red rush the storms of the desert,

And dark billows tumble on high.

Credits

Written by Robert Burns Jr.

Words by Robert Burns Jr. (died 1857). 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, “Ha'e ye seen 1”

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). The credited author died in 1857.

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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