Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
436 / 519
Public-domain lyrics

There'll never be Peace till Jamie comes hame

Robert Burns

“There'll never be Peace till Jamie comes hame” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 436 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

By yon castle wa', at the close of the day,

I heard a man sing, tho' his head it was grey:

And as he was singing, the tears fast down came—

There'll never be peace till Jamie comes hame.

Verse 2

The church is in ruins, the state is in jars,

Delusions, oppressions, and murderous wars;

We dare na weel say't, but we ken wha's to blame—

There'll never be peace till Jamie comes hame.

Verse 3

My seven braw sons for Jamie drew sword,

And now I greet round their green beds in the yerd;

It brak the sweet heart o' my faithfu' auld dame—

There'll never be peace till Jamie comes hame.

Verse 4

Now life is a burden that bows me down,

Sin' I tint my bairns, and he tint his crown;

But till my last moment my words are the same—

There'll never be peace till Jamie comes hame.

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), “There'll never be Peace till Jamie comes hame”

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

More from Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics.

01A Rose-budPublic-domain lyrics02A red, red RosePublic-domain lyrics03Address to a LadyPublic-domain lyrics04AdieuPublic-domain lyrics