Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

There was a Lad

Robert Burns

“There was a Lad” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 440 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

There was a lad was born at Kyle,

But what'n a day o' what'n a style

I doubt it's hardly worth the while

To be sae nice wi' Robin.

Verse 2

Robin was a rovin' Boy,

Rantin' rovin', rantin' rovin';

Robin was a rovin' Boy,

Rantin, rovin' Robin.

Verse 3

Our monarch's hindmost year but ane

Was five-and-twenty days begun,

'Twas then a blast o' Janwar win'

Blew hansel in on Robin.

Verse 4

The gossip keekit in his loof,

Quo scho wha lives will see the proof,

This waly boy will be nae coof,

I think we'll ca' him Robin.

Verse 5

He'll hae misfortunes great and sma',

But aye a heart aboon them a';

He'll be a credit to us a',

We'll a' be proud o' Robin.

Verse 6

But sure as three times three mak nine,

I see by ilka score and line,

This chap will dearly like our kin',

So leeze me on thee, Robin.

Verse 7

Guid faith, quo' scho, I doubt you, Sir,

Ye gar the lasses . . .

But twenty fauts ye may hae waur,

So blessings on thee, Robin!

Verse 8

Robin was a rovin' Boy,

Rantin' rovin', rantin' rovin';

Robin was a rovin' Boy,

Rantin' rovin' Robin.

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 was a Lad”

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