Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

The Ploughman

Robert Burns

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

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 403 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

The ploughman he's a bonie lad,

His mind is ever true, jo,

His garters knit below his knee,

His bonnet it is blue, jo.

Verse 2

CHORUS.

Then up wi't a', my ploughman lad,

And hey, my merry ploughman;

Of a' the trades that I do ken,

Commend me to the ploughman.

Verse 3

My ploughman he comes hame at e'en,

He's aften wat and weary;

Cast off the wat, put on the dry,

And gae to bed, my Dearie!

Up wi't a', &c.

Verse 4

I will wash my ploughman's hose,

And I will dress his o'erlay;

I will mak my ploughman's bed,

And cheer him late and early.

Up wi't a', &c.

Verse 5

I hae been east, I hae been west,

I hae been at Saint Johnston,

The boniest sight that e'er I saw

Was the ploughman laddie dancin'.

Up wi't a', &c.

Verse 6

Snaw-white stockins on his legs,

And siller buckles glancin';

A gude blue bannet on his head,

And O, but he was handsome!

Up wi't a', &c.

Verse 7

Commend me to the barn yard,

And the corn-mou, man;

I never gat my coggie fou

Till I met wi' the ploughman.

Up wi't a', &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 Ploughman”

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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