Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Meg o' the Mill

Robert Burns

“Meg o' the Mill” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 227 1887 · historical text
Public domainScottish songSong lyrics
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from The Poetical Works of Robert Burns, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

O ken ye what Meg o' the Mill has gotten,

An' ken ye what Meg o' the Mill has gotten?

She has gotten a coof wi' a claut o' siller,

And broken the heart o' the barley Miller.

Verse 2

The Miller was strappin, the Miller was ruddy;

A heart like a lord, and a hue like a lady;

The Laird was a widdiefu', bleerit knurl;

She's left the guid fellow and ta'en the churl.

Verse 3

The Miller he hecht her a heart leal and loving;

The Laird did address her wi' matter mair moving,

A fine pacing horse wi' a clear chained bridle,

A whip by her side, and a bonie side-saddle.

Verse 4

O wae on the siller, it is sae prevailing;

And wae on the love that is fixed on a mailen!

A tocher's nae word in a true lover's parle,

But, gie me my love, and a fig for the warl!

Credits

Written by Robert Burns

Words by Robert Burns. Historical text published in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887), “Meg o' the Mill”

Every text in this 1887 collected edition is by Robert Burns (1759-1796), who died more than 230 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide; the edition carries a Wikisource PD-old determination and a pre-1931 United States publication.

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 2026-10-25. 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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