Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Ye Jacobites by name

Robert Burns

“Ye Jacobites by name” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 511 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

Ye Jacobites by name, give an ear, give an ear;

Ye Jacobites by name, give an ear;

Ye Jacobites by name,

Your fautes I will proclaim,

Your doctrines I maun blame—

You shall hear.

Verse 2

What is right and what is wrang, by the law, by the law?

What is right and what is wrang by the law?

What is right and what is wrang?

A short sword and a lang,

A weak arm, and a strang

For to draw.

Verse 3

What makes heroic strife, fam'd afar, fam'd afar,

What makes heroic strife fam'd afar?

What makes heroic strife?

To whet th' assassin's knife,

Or hunt a parent's life,

Wi' bluidie war.

Verse 4

Then let your schemes alone, in the state, in the state;

Then let your schemes alone in the state;

Then let your schemes alone,

Adore the rising sun,

And leave a man undone

To his fate.

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), “Ye Jacobites by name”

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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