Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Robin shure in Hairst

Robert Burns

“Robin shure in Hairst” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 315 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.

Robin shure in hairst,

I shure wi' him,

Fient a heuk had I,

Yet I stack by him.

Verse 2

I gaed up to Dunse,

To warp a wab o' plaiden,

At his daddie's yett,

Wha met me but Robin.

Verse 3

Was na Robin bauld,

Tho' I was a cotter,

Play'd me sic a trick

And me the eller's dochter?

Robin shure, &c.

Verse 4

Robin promis'd me

A' my winter vittle;

Fient haet he had but three

Goose feathers and a whittle.

Robin shure, &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), “Robin shure in Hairst”

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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