Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Lady Onlie

Robert Burns

“Lady Onlie” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 55 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' the lads o' Thornie-bank,

When they gae to the shore o' Bucky,

They'll step in and tak' a pint

Wi' lady Onlie, honest lucky!

Lady Onlie, honest lucky,

Brews guid ale at shore o' Bucky;

I wish her sale for her guid ale,

The best on a' the shore o' Bucky.

Her house sae bien, her curshe sae clean,

I wat she is a dainty chucky;

And cheerlie blinks the ingle-gleed

Of lady Onlie, honest lucky!

Lady Onlie, &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, “Lady Onlie”

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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