Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Jumpin' John

Robert Burns

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

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 52 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

Her daddie forbade, her minnie forbade,

Forbidden she wadna be;

She wadna trow't, the brows't she brew'd

Wad taste sae bitterlie.

The lang lad, they ca' Jumpin' John,

Aft spier'd the bonnie lassie;

But faither and mither agreed thegither,

That nae sic match sud be.

Her daddie, &c.

A cow and a cauf, a ewe and a hauf,

And thretty gude shillins and three;

A vera gude tocher, a cotter man's dochter,

The lass wi' the bonnie black e'e.

Her daddie, &c.

Her daddie bade her counsel tak',

But counsel she tuik nane;

And lang and sair the lassie rued,

Sae fuil-like she'd been taen.

Her daddie, &c.

"Oh! for my daddie's kindly luik,

My minnie's kindly care!

Gin I were in their ingle neuk,

I'd never leave it mair."

Her daddie, &c.

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, “Jumpin' John”

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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