Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

O lay thy loof in mine

Robert Burns

“O lay thy loof in mine” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 264 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

CHORUS.

O lay thy loof in mine, lass,

In mine, lass, in mine, lass,

And swear in thy white hand, lass,

That thou wilt be my ain.

Verse 2

A slave to love's unbounded sway,

He aft has wrought me meikle wae;

But now he is my deadly fae,

Unless thou be my ain.

O lay thy loof, &c.

Verse 3

There's monie a lass has broke my rest,

That for a blink I hae lo'ed best;

But thou art Queen within my breast,

For ever to remain.

O lay thy loof, &c.

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), “O lay thy loof in mine”

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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