Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

The Farewell ("It was a' for our rightfu' King")

Robert Burns

“The Farewell ("It was a' for our rightfu' King")” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 378 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

It was a' for our rightfu' King,

We left fair Scotland's strand;

It was a' for our rightfu' King

We e'er saw Irish land,

My dear;

We e'er saw Irish land.

Verse 2

Now a' is done that men can do,

And a' is done in vain;

My love and native land farewell,

For I maun cross the main,

My dear;

For I maun cross the main.

Verse 3

He turn'd him right and round about

Upon the Irish shore;

And gae his bridle-reins a shake,

With adieu for evermore,

My dear;

With adieu for evermore.

Verse 4

The sodger from the wars returns,

The sailor frae the main;

But I hae parted frae my love,

Never to meet again,

My dear;

Never to meet again.

Verse 5

When day is gane, and night is come,

And a' folk bound to sleep;

I think on him that's far awa',

The lee-lang night, and weep,

My dear;

The lee-lang night, and weep.

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 ("It was a' for our rightfu' King")”

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.
Keep tracing

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