Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
493 / 519
Public-domain lyrics

Whan I sleep, I dream

Robert Burns

“Whan I sleep, I dream” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 493 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

Whan I sleep I dream,

Whan I wauk I'm eerie,

Sleep I canna get,

For thinkin' o' my dearie.

Verse 2

Lanely night comes on,

A' the house are sleeping,

I think on the bonie lad

That has my heart a keeping.

Ay waukin O, waukin ay and wearie,

Sleep I canna get, for thinkin' o' my dearie.

Verse 3

Lanely night comes on,

A' the house are sleeping,

I think on my bonie lad,

An' I bleer my een wi' greetin'!

Ay waukin, &c.

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), “Whan I sleep, I dream”

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