Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

My Nanie, O

Robert Burns

“My Nanie, O” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 238 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

Behind yon hills where Lugar flows,

'Mang moors an' mosses many, O,

The wintry sun the day has clos'd,

And I'll awa to Nanie, O.

Verse 2

The westlin wind blaws loud an' shill;

The night's baith mirk and rainy, O:

But I'll get my plaid, an' out I'll steal,

An' owre the hill to Nanie, O.

Verse 3

My Nanie's charming, sweet, an' young;

Nae artfu' wiles to win ye, O:

May ill befa' the flattering tongue

That wad beguile my Nanie, O.

Verse 4

Her face is fair, her heart is true,

As spotless as she's bonie, O:

The op'ning gowan, wat wi' dew,

Nae purer is than Nanie, O.

Verse 5

A country lad is my degree,

An' few there be that ken me, O;

But what care I how few they be,

I'm welcome aye to Nanie, O.

Verse 6

My riches a's my penny-fee,

An' I maun guide it cannie, O;

But warl's gear ne'er troubles me,

My thoughts are a', my Nanie, O.

Verse 7

Our auld Guidman delights to view

His sheep an' kye thrive bonie, O;

But I'm as blythe that hauds his pleugh,

An' has nae care but Nanie, O.

Verse 8

Come weel, come woe, I care na by,

I'll tak what Heav'n will sen' me, O;

Nae ither care in life have I,

But live, an' love my Nanie, O.

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), “My Nanie, O”

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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