Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

There was a Lad was born in Kyle

Robert Burns

“There was a Lad was born in Kyle” as printed in The Scottish Minstrel (First Series) (1850).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 78 1850 · historical text
Public domainScottish songFolk
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from The Scottish Minstrel (First Series), a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

There was a lad was born in Kyle,

But whatna day o' whatna style,

I doubt it's hardly worth the while

To be sae nice wi' Robin.

For Robin was a rovin' boy,

Rantin' rovin', rantin' rovin';

Robin was a rovin' boy,

Rantin' rovin' Robin!

Verse 2

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.

For Robin was, &c.

Verse 3

The gossip keekit in his loof,

Quo' she, wha lives will see the proof,

This walie boy will be nae coof—

I thiuk we'll ca' him Robin.

For Robin was, &c.

Verse 4

He'll hae misfortunes great and sma',

But aye a heart aboon them a';

He'll be a credit till us a'—

We'll a' be proud o' Robin.

For Robin was, &c.

Credits

Written by Robert Burns

Words by Robert Burns. Historical text published in The Scottish Minstrel (First Series) (1850); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

The Scottish Minstrel (First Series) (1850), “There was a Lad was born in Kyle”

Every contribution in this 1850 anthology predates modern copyright terms; any contributor died more than 130 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide.

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 2026-10-12. 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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