Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

The Birks of Aberfeldy

Robert Burns

“The Birks of Aberfeldy” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 355 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

Bonie lassie, will ye go, will ye go, will ye go,

Bonie lassie, will ye go to the Birks of Aberfeldy?

Verse 2

Now simmer blinks on flowery braes,

And o'er the crystal streamlet plays,

Come let us spend the lightsome days

In the Birks of Aberfeldy.

Bonie lassie, &c.

Verse 3

While o'er their heads the hazels hing,

The little birdies blithly sing,

Or lightly flit on wanton wing

In the Birks of Aberfeldy.

Bonie lassie, &c.

Verse 4

The braes ascend like lofty wa's,

The foaming stream deep roaring fa's,

O'erhung wi' fragrant spreading shaws,

The Birks of Aberfeldy.

Bonie lassie, &c.

Verse 5

The hoary cliffs are crown'd wi' flowers,

White o'er the linns the burnie pours,

And rising, weets wi' misty showers

The Birks of Aberfeldy.

Bonie lassie, &c.

Verse 6

Let Fortune's gifts at random flee,

They ne'er shall draw a wish frae me,

Supremely blest wi' love and thee,

In the Birks of Aberfeldy.

Bonie lassie, &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), “The Birks of Aberfeldy”

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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