Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
268 / 519
Public-domain lyrics

O steer her up

Robert Burns

“O steer her up” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 268 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 steer her up, and haud her gaun—

Her mother's at the mill, jo;

And gin she winna take a man,

E'en let her take her will, jo;

First shore her wi' a kindly kiss,

And ca' another gill, jo,

And gin she take the thing amiss,

E'en let her flyte her fill, jo.

Verse 2

O steer her up, and be no blate,

And gin she tak it ill, jo,

Then lea'e the lassie till her fate,

And time nae langer spill, jo:

Ne'er break your heart for ae rebute,

But think upon it still, jo;

Then gin the lassie winna do't,

Ye'll fin' anither will, jo.

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 steer her up”

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.
Keep tracing

More from Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics.

01A Rose-budPublic-domain lyrics02A red, red RosePublic-domain lyrics03Address to a LadyPublic-domain lyrics04AdieuPublic-domain lyrics