Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

The Farewell ("Farewell, old Scotia's bleak domains")

Robert Burns

“The Farewell ("Farewell, old Scotia's bleak domains")” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 377 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

Farewell, old Scotia's bleak domains,

Far dearer than the torrid plains

Where rich ananas blow!

Farewell, a mother's blessing dear!

A brother's sigh! a sister's tear!

My Jean's heart-rending throe!

Farewell, my Bess! tho' thou'rt bereft

Of my parental care;

A faithful brother I have left,

My part in him thou'lt share!

Adieu too, to you too,

My Smith, my bosom frien';

When kindly you mind me,

O then befriend my Jean!

Verse 2

When bursting anguish tears my heart,

From thee, my Jeany, must I part?

Thou weeping answ'rest 'no!'

Alas! misfortune stares my face,

And points to ruin and disgrace,

I for thy sake must go!

Thee, Hamilton, and Aiken dear,

A grateful, warm adieu!

I, with a much-indebted tear,

Shall still remember you!

All-hail then, the gale then,

Wafts me from thee, dear shore!

It rustles, and whistles,

I'll never see thee more!

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 Farewell ("Farewell, old Scotia's bleak domains")”

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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