Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

My bonnie Mary

Robert Burns

“My bonnie Mary” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 69 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

"As I went out to take the air,

'Twas on the banks of Diveron water,

I chose a maid to be my love,

Were it my fortune for to get her."

Verse 2

"Ye'll bring me here a pint of wine,

A server and a silver tassie,

That I may drink, before I gang,

A health to my ain bonnie lassie."

Verse 3

Go fetch to me a pint o' wine,

And fill it in a silver tassie;

That I may drink, before I go,

A service to my bonnie lassie.

The boat rocks at the pier of Leith,

Fu' loud the wind blaws frae the ferry;

The ship rides by the Berwick Law;

And I maun lea' my bonnie Mary.

The trumpets sound, the banners fiy;

The glittering spears are ranked ready;

The shouts o' war are heard afar;

The battle closes thick and bloody:

But it's not the roar of sea or shore,

Would mak' me langer wish to tarry;

Nor shouts of war, that's heard afar,

It's leaving thee, my bonnie Mary.

Credits

Written by Robert Burns

Words by Robert Burns (died 1796). 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, “My bonnie Mary”

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 1796.

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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