Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

On the Death of a Lap-dog, named Echo

Robert Burns

“On the Death of a Lap-dog, named Echo” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 289 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

In wood and wild, ye warbling throng,

Your heavy loss deplore;

Now half-extinct your powers of song,

Sweet Echo is no more.

Verse 2

Ye jarring, screeching things around,

Scream your discordant joys;

Now half your din of tuneless sound

With Echo silent lies.

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 the Death of a Lap-dog, named Echo”

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