Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

To Ruin

Robert Burns

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

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 466 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

All hail! inexorable lord!

At whose destruction-breathing word

The mightiest empires fall!

Thy cruel, woe-delighted train,

The ministers of grief and pain,

A sullen welcome, all!

With stern-resolv'd, despairing eye,

I see each aimèd dart;

For one has cut my dearest tie,

And quivers in my heart.

Then low'ring, and pouring,

The storm no more I dread;

Tho' thick'ning and black'ning

Round my devoted head.

Verse 2

And, thou grim pow'r, by life abhorr'd,

While life a pleasure can afford,

Oh! hear a wretch's pray'r!

No more I shrink appall'd, afraid;

I court, I beg thy friendly aid,

To close this scene of care!

When shall my soul, in silent peace,

Resign life's joyless day;

My weary heart its throbbings cease,

Cold-mould'ring in the clay?

No fear more, no tear more,

To stain my lifeless face,

Enclasped, and grasped

Within thy cold embrace!

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 Ruin”

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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