Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

To Mr. John Kennedy

Robert Burns

“To Mr. John Kennedy” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 463 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

Now Kennedy, if foot or horse

E'er bring you in by Mauchline Corss,

Lord man, there's lasses there wad force

A hermit's fancy,

And down the gate in faith they're worse

And mair unchancy.

Verse 2

But as I'm sayin' please step to Dow's

And taste sic gear as Johnny brews,

Till some bit callan brings me news

That you are there,

And if we dinna had a bouze

I'se ne'er drink mair.

Verse 3

It's no I like to sit an' swallow,

Then like a swine to puke an' wallow,

But gie me just a true good fallow

Wi' right ingine,

And spunkie ance to make us mellow,

And then we'll shine.

Verse 4

Now if ye're ane o' warl's folk,

Wha rate the wearer by the cloak,

An 'sklent on poverty their joke,

Wi' bitter sneer,

Wi' you no friendship I will troke

Nor cheap nor dear.

Verse 5

But if, as I'm informed weel,

Ye hate as ill's the vera De'il,

The flinty hearts that canna feel—

Come, Sir, here's tae you;

Hae there's my haun' I wiss you weel,

And gude be wi' you.

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), “To Mr. John Kennedy”

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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