Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

On a Scotch Bard, gone to the West Indies

Robert Burns

“On a Scotch Bard, gone to the West Indies” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 280 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

A' ye wha live by sowps o' drink,

A' ye wha live by crambo-clink,

A' ye wha live an' never think,

Come mourn wi' me!

Our billie's gien us a' a jink,

An' owre the sea.

Verse 2

Lament him a' ye rantin core,

Wha dearly like a random-splore,

Nae mair he'll join the merry roar,

In social key;

For now he's taen anither shore,

An' owre the sea!

Verse 3

The bonie lasses weel may wiss him,

And in their dear petitions place him:

The widows, wives, an' a' may bless him,

Wi' tearfu' e'e;

For weel I wat they'll sairly miss him

That's owre the sea!

Verse 4

O Fortune, they hae room to grumble!

Hadst thou taen aff some drowsy bummle,

Wha can do nought but fyke an' fumble,

'Twad been nae plea;

But he was gleg as onie wumble,

That's owre the sea!

Verse 5

Auld, cantie Kyle may weepers wear,

An' stain them wi' the saut, saut tear:

'Twill mak her poor, auld heart, I fear,

In flinders flee;

He was her Laureat monie a year

That's owre the sea!

Verse 6

He saw misfortune's cauld nor-west

Lang mustering up a bitter blast;

A jillet brak his heart at last,

Ill may she be!

So, took a birth afore the mast,

An' owre the sea.

Verse 7

To tremble under Fortune's cummock,

On scarce a bellyfu' o' drummock,

Wi' his proud, independent stomach,

Could ill agree;

So, row't his hurdies in a hammock,

An' owre the sea.

Verse 8

He ne'er was gi'en to great misguidin',

Yet coin his pouches wad na bide in;

Wi' him it ne'er was under hidin',

He dealt it free:

The Muse was a' that he took pride in,

That's owre the sea.

Verse 9

Jamaica bodies, use him weel,

An' hap him in a cozie biel;

Ye'll find him ay' a dainty chiel,

And fu' o' glee;

He wad na wrang'd the vera deil,

That's owre the sea.

Verse 10

Fareweel, my rhyme-composing billie!

Your native soil was right ill-willie;

But may ye flourish like a lily,

Now bonilie!

I'll toast ye in my hindmost gillie,

Tho' owre the sea!

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), “On a Scotch Bard, gone to the West Indies”

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

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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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