Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

The Cardin' o't

Robert Burns

“The Cardin' o't” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 363 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

I coft a stane o' haslock woo',

To make a coat to Johnny o't;

For Johnny is my only jo,

I lo'e him best of ony yet.

The cardin' o't, the spinnin' o't,

The warpin' o't, the winnin' o't;

When ilka ell cost me a groat,

The tailor staw the lynin o't.

Verse 2

For though his locks be lyart gray,

And tho' his brow be beld aboon;

Yet I hae seen him on a day,

The pride of a' the parishen.

The cardin' o't, the spinnin' o't,

The warpin' o't, the winnin' o't;

When ilka ell cost me a groat,

The tailor staw the lynin o't.

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 Cardin' o't”

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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