Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Stanzas on the same occasion

Robert Burns

“Stanzas on the same occasion” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 336 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

Why am I loth to leave this earthly scene!

Have I so found it full of pleasing charms?

Some drops of joy with draughts of ill between:

Some gleams of sunshine 'mid renewing storms;

Is it departing pangs my soul alarms?

Or Death's unlovely, dreary, dark abode?

For guilt, for guilt, my terrors are in arms;

I tremble to approach an angry God,

And justly smart beneath his sin-avenging rod.

Verse 2

Fain would I say, 'Forgive my foul offence!'

Fain promise never more to disobey;

But, should my Author health again dispense,

Again I might desert fair virtue's way;

Again in folly's path might go astray;

Again exalt the brute, and sink the man;

Then how should I for Heavenly mercy pray,

Who act so counter Heavenly mercy's plan?

Who sin so oft have mourn'd, yet to temptation ran?

Verse 3

O Thou, great Governor of all below!

If I may dare a lifted eye to Thee,

Thy nod can make the tempest cease to blow,

And still the tumult of the raging sea:

With that controuling pow'r assist ev'n me,

Those headlong furious passions to confine,

For all unfit I feel my powers be,

To rule their torrent in th' allowed line;

O, aid me with Thy help, Omnipotence Divine!

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), “Stanzas on the same occasion”

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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