Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
489 / 519
Public-domain lyrics

Wandering Willie

Robert Burns

“Wandering Willie” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 489 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

Here awa, there awa, wandering Willie,

Here awa, there awa, haud awa hame;

Come to my bosom, my ain only dearie,

Tell me thou bring'st me my Willie the same.

Verse 2

Winter winds blew loud and cauld at our parting,

Fears for my Willie brought tears in my ee;

Welcome now simmer, and welcome my Willie,

The simmer to nature, my Willie to me!

Verse 3

Rest, ye wild storms, in the cave of your slumbers;

How your dread howling a lover alarms!

Wauken, ye breezes, row gently, ye billows,

And waft my dear laddie ance mair to my arms.

Verse 4

But oh, if he's faithless, and minds na his Nannie,

Flow still between us, thou wide-roaring main;

May I never see it, may I never trow it,

But, dying, believe that my Willie's my ain.

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), “Wandering Willie”

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