Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Song ('Anna, thy charms my bosom fire')

Robert Burns

“Song ('Anna, thy charms my bosom fire')” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 330 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

Anna, thy charms my bosom fire,

And waste my soul with care;

But ah! how bootless to admire!

When fated to despair!

Yet in thy presence, lovely fair,

To hope may be forgiven;

For sure, 'twere impious to despair

So much in sight of heaven.

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), “Song ('Anna, thy charms my bosom fire')”

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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