Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

The Dumfries Volunteers

Robert Burns

“The Dumfries Volunteers” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 375 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

Does haughty Gaul invasion threat?

Then let the loons beware, Sir,

There's wooden walls upon our seas,

And volunteers on shore, Sir.

The Nith shall run to Corsincon,

And Criffel sink to Solway,

Ere we permit a foreign foe

On British ground to rally!

Fal de ral, &c.

Verse 2

O let us not like snarling tykes

In wrangling be divided;

Till, slap, come in an unco loon

And wi' a rung decide it.

Be Britain still to Britain true,

Amang oursels united;

For never but by British hands

Maun British wrangs be righted!

Fal de ral, &c.

Verse 3

The kettle o' the kirk and state,

Perhaps a clout may fail in't;

But deil a foreign tinkler loon

Shall ever ca' a nail in't.

Our fathers' bluid the kettle bought,

And wha wad dare to spoil it;

By heaven, the sacrilegious dog

Shall fuel be to boil it.

Fal de ral, &c.

Verse 4

The wretch that wad a tyrant own,

And the wretch his true-born brother,

Who would set the mob aboon the throne,

May they be damned together!

Who will not sing, 'God save the King,'

Shall hang as high's the steeple;

But while we sing, 'God save the King,'

We'll ne'er forget the People.

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 Dumfries Volunteers”

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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