Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Willie Chalmers

Robert Burns

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

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 504 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

Wi' braw new branks in mickle pride,

And eke a braw new brechan,

My Pegasus I'm got astride,

And up Parnassus pechin;

Whiles owre a bush wi' downward crush,

The doited beastie stammers;

Then up he gets, and off he sets

For sake o' Willie Chalmers.

Verse 2

I doubt na, lass, that weel kenn'd name

May cost a pair o' blushes;

I am nae stranger to your fame

Nor his warm urged wishes.

Your bonie face sae mild and sweet,

His honest heart enamours,

And faith ye'll no be lost a whit,

Tho' waired on Willie Chalmers.

Verse 3

Auld Truth hersel' might swear ye're fair,

And Honour safely back her,

And Modesty assume your air,

And ne'er a ane mistak' her:

And sic twa love-inspiring een

Might fire even holy Palmers;

Nae wonder then they've fatal been

To honest Willie Chalmers.

Verse 4

I doubt na fortune may you shore

Some mim-mou'd pouther'd priestie,

Fu' lifted up wi' Hebrew lore,

And band upon his breastie:

But Oh! what signifies to you,

His lexicons and grammars;

The feeling heart's the royal blue,

And that's wi' Willie Chalmers.

Verse 5

Some gapin' glowrin' countra laird,

May warsle for your favour;

May claw his lug, and straik his beard,

And host up some palaver.

My bonie maid, before ye wed

Sic clumsy-witted hammers,

Seek Heaven for help, and barefit skelp

Awa' wi' Willie Chalmers.

Verse 6

Forgive the Bard! my fond regard

For ane that shares my bosom,

Inspires my muse to gie 'm his dues,

For de'il a hair I roose him.

May powers aboon unite you soon,

And fructify your amours,—

And every year come in mair dear

To you and Willie Chalmers.

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), “Willie Chalmers”

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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