Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
498 / 519
Public-domain lyrics

When first I came to Stewart Kyle

Robert Burns

“When first I came to Stewart Kyle” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 498 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

When first I came to Stewart Kyle,

My mind it was na steady,

Where'er I gaed, where'er I rade,

A mistress still I had aye:

But when I came roun' by Mauchline town,

Not dreadin' onie body,

My heart was caught before I thought,

And by a Mauchline lady.

·······

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), “When first I came to Stewart Kyle”

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