Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Naebody

Robert Burns

“Naebody” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 246 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

I hae a wife o' my ain,

I'll partake wi' naebody;

I'll tak cuckold frae nane,

I'll gie cuckold to naebody.

Verse 2

I hae a penny to spend,

There—thanks to naebody;

I hae naething to lend,

I'll borrow frae naebody.

Verse 3

I am naebody's lord,

I'll be slave to naebody;

I hae a guid braid sword,

I'll tak dunts fra naebody.

Verse 4

I'll be merry and free,

I'll be sad for naebody;

If naebody care for me,

I'll care for naebody.

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), “Naebody”

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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