Widely accepted as the pioneer of the Romantic movement, Robert Burns was not only inspirational and popular among the common folks of Scotland during his lifetime but his legacy continues until this day and is spread across the world. He was one of the biggest names in the cultural history of Scotland.
Burns was a poor tenant farmer in his early days. Still, he could possess his immense wisdom and intellect in his songs and poems.
By writing some beautiful lyrical poems and rewriting Scottish folk songs he became the flag bearer of the romantic movement. Even after his death, his works have continued to inspire millions of hearts across the globe. Here is some background on the Family tree of Robert Burns.
Table of Contents
Early Life of Burns
Born on 25th January 1759, Robert Burns is remembered by a variety of names and titles such as Robbie Burns, the Bard of Ayrshire or the Ploughman Poet. He was the eldest of William and Agnes Burnes’ seven children.
Robert Burns’ father was a tenant farmer who tried to educate his children but due to financial difficulties, Robert Burns had to quit school early on but was nonetheless encouraged by his father to continue studying at home. Burns’ early life was spent in labour and toil as he worked along with his father on leased farmland.
It is said to have taken a visible toll on him. He led a very interesting life and had his share of affairs with multiple women and sired a number of illegitimate children. However, he married Jean Armour in 1788 with whom he already had twins in 1786 but hadn’t been able to marry her because of her father’s protests.
Well known for collecting Scottish poems and revising or adapting them to create fine songs that are enjoyed even today across the world, his cultural connection to Scotland is remarkable and is appreciated by everyone.
Robert Burns’ Love Life
After his father’s death, Burns and his family moved to Mauchline which was a nearby town in Scotland. Young and charming Burns had some illegal relationships between the years 1784 and 1788. These relationships were simultaneous and it also produced some illegitimate children.
Elizabeth Paton, Jean Amour, and Mary Campbell were the lovers who came temporarily in Burns’s life. Burns felt severe lovelessness in such chaotic conditions and it fueled his writing self. In the year 1786, Burns published his first volume of poems, entitled “Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect”. This work of Burns got highly praised by critics and it reached every class of Scottish society. It brought sudden fame to Burns and he decided to go to Edinburgh to lie in the bed of fame. In his honour, there is a 2-pound coin dedicated to him.
Achievements and Sudden Fame
When Burns was in Edinburgh he made so many close friends. Agnes ‘Nancy’ McLehose was one of them with whom Burns used to exchange some really passionate letters. Sadly they couldn’t build up a legitimate relationship.
Burns got frustrated because of this failure and he began to seduce her maid named Jenny Clow. Jenny gave birth to a son later.
After that Burns turned to business and he joined James Johnson. James was an emerging music publisher. He asked Burns for his help and Burns reacted with “The Scots Musical Museum”.
It was basically a collection of traditional Scottish music. Soon Burns was faded up with the monotonous urban life and settled himself on a farm which was in Ellisland. It was the summer of 1788 when Burns finally married Jean Armor. The couple had nine children but unfortunately, six of them died.
Finally, in 1791 Burns gave up farming and moved his family to Dumfries which was also a nearby town. He worked as a tax collector there for a living. To feed his passion he continued to write poems and gather traditional Scottish folk songs.
In the same year, Burns published the poem called “Tam O’Shanter“. It was an implied autobiographical story of a farmer. Then in the year 1793, he collaborated with the publisher, George Thomson. There he published “A Select Collection Of Original Scottish Airs For Voice”. Later he goes on to publish some immortal masterpieces, “Auld Lang Sune“, “A Red, Red Rose“, “The Battle Of Sherramuir”.
Famous works of Robert Burns
His most cherished works include ‘Auld Lang Syne’, which is played on the last day of the year in Scotland, also called the Hogmanay, ‘Tam O’ Shanter’, which can be accepted as the unofficial National anthem of Scotland, ‘To a Mouse‘, and ‘ A Man’s a Man for A’ That’, although many more poems of his are popular in Scotland till date.
‘ Tam O’ Shanter’ is probably his best work filled with humour just as ‘Holy Willie’s Prayer’ and ‘The Holy Fair’ are the best of his satirical works. His popularity and reach were widespread as he wrote not only in Scottish but also in Standard English or a Scottish English dialect and it earned him the title of the typical Scot by some people.
During the 19th-20th century, the celebration of his life and his work had emerged almost like a cult. Even today, his birthday, the 25th of January is viewed as a very important day by people across the world and it is celebrated as Burns Night or the Burns Supper in remembrance of his life and work.
He became the inspiration to founders of both liberalism and Socialism as his writings were mostly inclusive of religiousness, morality, poverty, society and various other themes. He was greatly interested in the French Revolution in his later years of life and his opinions about the same turned out to be controversial at the time.
What’s really amusing about the life of Robert Burns is that he probably took inspiration for most of his works from what he saw in and around his own personal life; his love life, poverty, humanity’s unequal condition, honesty, hard work, issue of social class difference and cultural issues.
If on a quiet evening, ‘Auld Lang Syne’ is played, then one can’t fail to see the beauty in the lines “ We’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet, For auld lang syne”. It’s the simplicity and the relatable lyrics that behold the listener. His humility is proved by the fact that a number of his writings had been written by him for free. Also, read Address to a haggis detailed analysis and Red red Rose critical analysis and summary
However, he seems to have been agitated by the sufferings of the poor and the undeniable differentiation of classes in the society and he has expressed the same in his writings. Already involved in drinking and women, in 1791, it is said that when he became a permanent exciseman, the stable income encouraged his drinking habits and he died in 1796 because of rheumatic fever as he slept off on a footpath on a rainy night after drinking too much.
Despite his short life of just 37 years, he contributed immensely to literature and philosophy through his life’s work. Although he was born in a poor, common family, his knowledge about literature and the technicalities of literary writing was unusually immense. And this created among the common people a sense of relatability as people felt that, if he could earn so much of fame and could become so popular during his lifetime and could be remembered amongst the greatest personalities posthumously too, then anyone could.
He, therefore, came to be seen as an idol or a symbol of potential by the Scots and is celebrated by formal groups and clubs in the form of Burns Supper.
Despite being criticised for his use of general language in writing poetry, his approach to the French Revolution and his way with women and drinks by many critics, Robert Burns is commonly recognized and remembered with love and affection throughout Scotland for his great writings that are amusing as well as filled with thought-provoking themes, and he is hence acclaimed as the National Poet of Scotland.
Later Years And Death
In the final years, Burns got involved in the French Revolution abroad and the radical reformation in the homeland. Burns was not so good with his health and he also had several patches of illness that affected the condition of his heart.
It was July 21st in the year 1796 when Burns went to the west just at the age of 37. Undoubtedly the legacy of Burns still lives among us for which he is aptly regarded as the pioneer of the Romantic Movement.
There is a museum dedicated to his memory.
Complete list of his works: year-wise
Check out some of the Short poems of Robert Burns
1771 – 1779
Song—Handsome Nell
Song—O Tibbie, I Hae Seen The Day
Song—I Dream’d I Lay
Song—In The Character Of A Ruined Farmer
Tragic Fragment
Tarbolton Lasses, The
Montgomerie’s Peggy
Ploughman’s Life, The
1780
Ronalds Of The Bennals, The
Song—Here’s To Thy Health
Lass Of Cessnock Banks, The^1
Song—Bonie Peggy Alison
Song—Mary Morison
1781
Winter: A Dirge
Prayer, Under The Pressure Of Violent Anguish
Paraphrase Of The First Psalm
First Six Verses Of The Ninetieth Psalm Versified, The
Prayer, In The Prospect Of Death
Stanzas, On The Same Occasion
1782
Fickle Fortune: A Fragment
Raging Fortune—Fragment Of Song
Impromptu—“I’ll Go And Be A Sodger”
Song—“No Churchman Am I”
A Stanza Added In A Mason Lodge
My Father Was A Farmer
John Barleycorn: A Ballad
1783
Death And Dying Words Of Poor Mailie, The Author’s Only Pet Yowe., The
Poor Mailie’s Elegy
Song—The Rigs O’ Barley
Song Composed In August
Song
Song—Green Grow The Rashes
Song—Wha Is That At My Bower-Door
1784
Remorse: A Fragment
Epitaph On Wm. Hood, Senr., In Tarbolton
Epitaph On James Grieve, Laird Of Boghead, Tarbolton
Epitaph On My Own Friend And My Father’s Friend, Wm. Muir In Tarbolton Mill
Epitaph On My Ever Honoured Father
Ballad On The American War
Reply To An Announcement By J. Rankine On His Writing To The Poet,
Epistle To John Rankine
A Poet’s Welcome To His Love-Begotten Daughter^1
Song—O Leave Novels^1
Fragment—The Mauchline Lady
Fragment—My Girl She’s Airy
The Belles Of Mauchline
Epitaph On A Noisy Polemic
Epitaph On A Henpecked Country Squire
Epigram On The Said Occasion
Another
On Tam The Chapman
Epitaph On John Rankine
Lines On The Author’s Death
Man Was Made To Mourn: A Dirge
The Twa Herds; Or, The Holy Tulyie
1785
Epistle To Davie, A Brother Poet
Holy Willie’s Prayer
Epitaph On Holy Willie
Death and Doctor Hornbook
Epistle To J. Lapraik, An Old Scottish Bard
Second Epistle To J. Lapraik
Epistle To William Simson
Postcript
One Night As I Did Wander
Tho’ Cruel Fate Should Bid Us Part
Song—Rantin’, Rovin’ Robin^1
Elegy On The Death Of Robert Ruisseaux^1
Epistle To John Goldie, In Kilmarnock
The Holy Fair^1
Third Epistle To J. Lapraik
Epistle To The Rev. John M’math
Second Epistle to Davie
Song—Young Peggy Blooms
Song—Farewell To Ballochmyle
Fragment—Her Flowing Locks
Halloween^1
To A Mouse, On Turning Her Up In Her Nest With The Plough, November, 1785
Epitaph On John Dove, Innkeeper
Epitaph For James Smith
Adam Armour’s Prayer
The Jolly Beggars: A Cantata^1
Song—For A’ That^1
Song—Merry Hae I Been Teethin A Heckle
The Cotter’s Saturday Night
Address To The Deil
Scotch Drink
1786
The Auld Farmer’s New-Year-Morning Salutation To His Auld Mare, Maggie
The Twa Dogs^1
The Author’s Earnest Cry And Prayer
The Ordination
Epistle To James Smith
The Vision
Suppressed Stanza’s Of “The Vision”
Address To The Unco Guid, Or The Rigidly Righteous
The Inventory^1
To John Kennedy, Dumfries House
To Mr. M’Adam, Of Craigen-Gillan
To A Louse, On Seeing One On A Lady’s Bonnet, At Church
Inscribed On A Work Of Hannah More’s
Song, Composed In Spring
To A Mountain Daisy,
To Ruin
The Lament
Despondency: An Ode
To Gavin Hamilton, Esq., Mauchline,
Versified Reply To An Invitation
Song—Will Ye Go To The Indies, My Mary?
Song—My Highland Lassie, O
Epistle To A Young Friend
Address Of Beelzebub
A Dream
A Dedication
Versified Note To Dr. Mackenzie, Mauchline
The Farewell To the Brethren of St. James’ Lodge, Tarbolton.
On A Scotch Bard, Gone To The West Indies
Song—Farewell To Eliza
A Bard’s Epitaph
Epitaph On “Wee Johnie”
The Lass O’ Ballochmyle
Lines To An Old Sweetheart
Motto Prefixed To The Author’s First Publication
Lines To Mr. John Kennedy
Lines Written On A Banknote
Stanzas On Naething
The Farewell
Thomson’s Edward and Eleanora.
The Calf
Nature’s Law—A Poem
Song—Willie Chalmers
Reply To A Trimming Epistle Received From A Tailor
The Brigs Of Ayr
Fragment Of Song
Epigram On Rough Roads
Prayer—O Thou Dread Power
Farewell Song To The Banks Of Ayr
Address To The Toothache
Lines On Meeting With Lord Daer^1
Masonic Song
Tam Samson’s Elegy
The Epitaph
Per Contra
Epistle To Major Logan
Fragment On Sensibility
A Winter Night
Song—Yon Wild Mossy Mountains
Address To Edinburgh
Address To A Haggis
1787
To Miss Logan, With Beattie’s Poems, For A New-Year’s Gift, Jan. 1, 1787.
Mr. William Smellie—A Sketch
Song—Bonie Dundee
Extempore In The Court Of Session
Inscription For The Headstone Of Fergusson The Poet^1
Epistle To Mrs. Scott
Verses Intended To Be Written Below A Noble Earl’s Picture^1
Prologue
The Bonie Moor-Hen
Song—My Lord A-Hunting
Epigram At Roslin Inn
Epigram Addressed To An Artist
The Book-Worms
On Elphinstone’s Translation Of Martial’s Epigrams
Song—A Bottle And Friend
Epitaph For William Nicol, Of The High School, Edinburgh
Epitaph For Mr. William Michie
Address To Wm. Tytler, Esq., Of Woodhouselee
Epigram To Miss Ainslie In Church
Burlesque Lament For The Absence Of William Creech, Publisher
Note to Mr. Renton
Elegy On “Stella”
The Bard At Inverary
Epigram To Miss Jean Scott
On The Death Of John M’Leod, Esq,
Elegy On The Death Of Sir James Hunter Blair
Impromptu On Carron Iron Works
To Miss Ferrier
Written By Somebody On The Window
The Poet’s Reply To The Threat Of A Censorious Critic
The Libeller’s Self-Reproof^1
Verses Written With A Pencil
Song—The Birks Of Aberfeldy
The Humble Petition Of Bruar Water
Lines On The Fall Of Fyers Near Loch-Ness.
Epigram On Parting With A Kind Host In The Highlands
Strathallan’s Lament^1
Castle Gordon
Song—Lady Onlie, Honest Lucky
Theniel Menzies’ Bonie Mary
The Bonie Lass Of Albany^1
On Scaring Some Water-Fowl In Loch-Turit
Blythe Was She^1
A Rose-Bud By My Early Walk
Song—The Banks of the Devon
Epitaph For Mr. W. Cruikshank^1
Braving Angry Winter’s Storms
Song—My Peggy’s Charms
The Young Highland Rover
Birthday Ode For 31st December, 1787^1
On The Death Of Robert Dundas, Esq., Of Arniston,
Sylvander To Clarinda^1
1788
Love In The Guise Of Friendship
Go On, Sweet Bird, And Sooth My Care
Clarinda, Mistress Of My Soul
I’m O’er Young To Marry Yet
To The Weavers Gin Ye Go
M’Pherson’s Farewell
Stay My Charmer
Song—My Hoggie
Raving Winds Around Her Blowing
Up In The Morning Early
Hey, The Dusty Miller
Duncan Davison
The Lad They Ca’Jumpin John
Talk Of Him That’s Far Awa
To Daunton Me
The Winter It Is Past
The Bonie Lad That’s Far Awa
Verses To Clarinda
The Chevalier’s Lament
Epistle To Hugh Parker
Of A’ The Airts The Wind Can Blaw^1
Song—I Hae a Wife O’ My Ain
Lines Written In Friars’-Carse Hermitage
To Alex. Cunningham, ESQ., Writer
Song.—Anna, Thy Charms
The Fete Champetre
Epistle To Robert Graham, Esq., Of Fintry
Song.—The Day Returns
Song.—O, Were I On Parnassus Hill
A Mother’s Lament
The Fall Of The Leaf
I Reign In Jeanie’s Bosom
Auld Lang Syne
My Bonie Mary
The Parting Kiss
Written In Friar’s-Carse Hermitage
The Poet’s Progress
Elegy On The Year 1788
The Henpecked Husband
Versicles On Sign-Posts
1789
Robin Shure In Hairst
Ode, Sacred To The Memory Of Mrs. Oswald Of Auchencruive
Pegasus At Wanlockhead
Sappho Redivivus—A Fragment
Song—She’s Fair And Fause
Impromptu Lines To Captain Riddell
Lines To John M’Murdo, Esq. Of Drumlanrig
Rhyming Reply To A Note From Captain Riddell
Caledonia—A Ballad
To Miss Cruickshank
Beware O’ Bonie Ann
Ode On The Departed Regency Bill
Epistle To James Tennant Of Glenconner
A New Psalm For The Chapel Of Kilmarnock
Sketch In Verse
The Wounded Hare
Delia, An Ode
The Gard’ner Wi’ His Paidle
On A Bank Of Flowers
Young Jockie Was The Blythest Lad
The Banks Of Nith
Jamie, Come Try Me
I Love My Love In Secret
Sweet Tibbie Dunbar
The Captain’s Lady
John Anderson, My Jo
My Love, She’s But A Lassie Yet
Song—Tam Glen
Carle, An The King Come
The Laddie’s Dear Sel’
Whistle O’er The Lave O’t
My Eppie Adair
On The Late Captain Grose’s Peregrinations Thro’ Scotland
Epigram On Francis Grose The Antiquary
The Kirk Of Scotland’s Alarm
Presentation Stanzas To Correspondents
Sonnet On Receiving A Favour
Extemporaneous Effusion
Song—Willie Brew’d A Peck O’ Maut^1
Ca’ The Yowes To The Knowes
I Gaed A Waefu’ Gate Yestreen
Highland Harry Back Again
The Battle Of Sherramuir
The Braes O’ Killiecrankie
Awa’ Whigs, Awa’
A Waukrife Minnie
The Captive Ribband
My Heart’s In The Highlands
The Whistle—A Ballad
To Mary In Heaven
Epistle To Dr. Blacklock
The Five Carlins
Election Ballad For Westerha’
Prologue Spoken At The Theatre Of Dumfries
1790
Sketch—New Year’s Day [1790]
Scots’ Prologue For Mr. Sutherland
Lines To A Gentleman,
Elegy On Willie Nicol’s Mare
The Gowden Locks Of Anna
Postscript
Song—I Murder Hate
Gudewife, Count The Lawin
Election Ballad
Elegy On Captain Matthew Henderson
The Epitaph
Verses On Captain Grose
Tam O’ Shanter
On The Birth Of A Posthumous Child
Elegy On The Late Miss Burnet Of Monboddo
1791
Lament Of Mary, Queen Of Scots, On The Approach Of Spring
There’ll Never Be Peace Till Jamie Comes Hame
Song—Out Over The Forth
The Banks O’ Doon—First Version
The Banks O’ Doon—Second Version
The Banks O’ Doon—Third Version
Lament For James, Earl Of Glencairn
Lines Sent To Sir John Whiteford, Bart
Craigieburn Wood
Epigram On Miss Davies
The Charms Of Lovely Davies
What Can A Young Lassie Do Wi’ An Auld Man
The Posie
On Glenriddell’s Fox Breaking His Chain
Poem On Pastoral Poetry
Verses On The Destruction Of The Woods Near Drumlanrig
The Gallant Weaver
Epigram At Brownhill Inn^1
Lovely Polly Stewart
Fragment,—Damon And Sylvia
Johnie Lad, Cock Up Your Beaver
My Eppie Macnab
Altho’ He Has Left Me
My Tocher’s The Jewel
O For Ane An’ Twenty, Tam
Thou Fair Eliza
My Bonie Bell
Sweet Afton
Address To The Shade Of Thomson
Nithsdale’s Welcome Hame
Frae The Friends And Land I Love
Such A Parcel Of Rogues In A Nation
Ye Jacobites By Name
I Hae Been At Crookieden
O Kenmure’s On And Awa, Willie
Epistle To John Maxwell, ESQ., Of Terraughty
Second Epistle To Robert Graham, ESQ., Of Fintry
The Song Of Death
Poem On Sensibility
The Toadeater
Divine Service In The Kirk Of Lamington
The Keekin’-Glass
A Grace Before Dinner, Extempore
A Grace After Dinner, Extempore
O May, Thy Morn
Ae Fond Kiss, And Then We Sever
Behold The Hour, The Boat, Arrive
Thou Gloomy December
My Native Land Sae Far Awa
1792
I do Confess Thou Art Sae Fair
Lines On Fergusson, The Poet
The Weary Pund O’ Tow
When She Cam’ Ben She Bobbed
Scroggam, My Dearie
My Collier Laddie
Sic A Wife As Willie Had
Lady Mary Ann
Kellyburn Braes
The Slave’s Lament
O Can Ye Labour Lea?
The Deuks Dang O’er My Daddie
The Deil’s Awa Wi’ The Exciseman
The Country Lass
Bessy And Her Spinnin’ Wheel
Love For Love
Saw Ye Bonie Lesley
Fragment Of Song
I’ll Meet Thee On The Lea Rig
My Wife’s A Winsome Wee Thing
Highland Mary
Auld Rob Morris
The Rights Of Woman
Epigram On Seeing Miss Fontenelle In A Favourite Character
Extempore On Some Commemorations Of Thomson
Duncan Gray
Here’s A Health To Them That’s Awa
A Tippling Ballad
1793
Poortith Cauld And Restless Love
On Politics
Braw Lads O’ Galla Water
Sonnet Written On The Author’s Birthday,
Wandering Willie—First Version
Wandering Willie—Revised Version
Lord Gregory
Open The Door To Me, Oh
Lovely Young Jessie
Meg O’ The Mill
Meg O’ The Mill—Another Version
The Soldier’s Return
Versicles, A.D. 1793
The True Loyal Natives
On Commissary Goldie’s Brains
Lines Inscribed In A Lady’s Pocket Almanac
Thanksgiving For A National Victory
Lines On The Commemoration Of Rodney’s Victory
The Raptures Of Folly
Kirk and State Excisemen
Extempore Reply To An Invitation
Grace After Meat
Grace Before And After Meat
Impromptu On General Dumourier’s Desertion From The French Republican Army
The Last Time I Came O’er The Moor
Logan Braes
Blythe Hae I been On Yon Hill
O Were My Love Yon Lilac Fair
Bonie Jean—A Ballad
Lines On John M’Murdo, ESQ.
Epitaph On A Lap-Dog
Epigrams Against The Earl Of Galloway
Epigram On The Laird Of Laggan
Song—Phillis The Fair
Song—Had I A Cave
Song—By Allan Stream
Whistle, And I’ll Come To You, My Lad
Phillis The Queen O’ The Fair
Come, Let Me Take Thee To My Breast
Dainty Davie
Robert Bruce’s March To Bannockburn
Behold The Hour, The Boat Arrive
Down The Burn, Davie
Thou Hast Left Me Ever, Jamie
Where Are The Joys I have Met?
Deluded Swain, The Pleasure
Thine Am I, My Faithful Fair
On Mrs. Riddell’s Birthday
My Spouse Nancy
Address
Complimentary Epigram On Maria Riddell
1794
Remorseful Apology
Wilt Thou Be My Dearie?
A Fiddler In The North
The Minstrel At Lincluden
A Vision
A Red, Red Rose
Young Jamie, Pride Of A’ The Plain
The Flowery Banks Of Cree
Monody
The Epitaph
Pinned To Mrs. Walter Riddell’s Carriage
Epitaph For Mr. Walter Riddell
Epistle From Esopus To Maria
Epitaph On A Noted Coxcomb
On Capt. Lascelles
On Wm. Graham, Esq., Of Mossknowe
On John Bushby, Esq., Tinwald Downs
Sonnet On The Death Of Robert Riddell
The Lovely Lass O’ Inverness
Charlie, He’s My Darling
Bannocks O’ Bear Meal
The Highland Balou
The Highland Widow’s Lament
It Was A’ For Our Rightfu’ King
Ode For General Washington’s Birthday
Inscription To Miss Graham Of Fintry
On The Seas And Far Away
Ca’ The Yowes To The Knowes—Second Version
She Says She Loes Me Best Of A’
To Dr. Maxwell
To The Beautiful Miss Eliza J—N
On Chloris
On Seeing Mrs. Kemble In Yarico
Epigram On A Country Laird,
On Being Shewn A Beautiful Country Seat
On Hearing It Asserted Falsehood
On A Suicide
On A Swearing Coxcomb
On An Innkeeper Nicknamed “The Marquis”
On Andrew Turner
Pretty Peg
Esteem For Chloris
Saw Ye My Dear, My Philly
How Lang And Dreary Is The Night
Inconstancy In Love
The Lover’s Morning Salute To His Mistress
The Winter Of Life
Behold, My Love, How Green The Groves
The Charming Month Of May
Lassie Wi’ The Lint-White Locks
Dialogue song—Philly And Willy
Contented Wi’ Little And Cantie Wi’ Mair
Farewell Thou Stream
Canst Thou Leave Me Thus, My Katie
My Nanie’s Awa
The Tear-Drop
For The Sake O’ Somebody
1795
A Man’s A Man For A’ That
Craigieburn Wood
Versicles of 1795
The Solemn League And Covenant
Lines sent with a Present of a Dozen of Porter.
Inscription On A Goblet
Apology For Declining An Invitation To Dine
Epitaph For Mr. Gabriel Richardson
Epigram On Mr. James Gracie
Bonie Peg-a-Ramsay
Inscription At Friars’ Carse Hermitage
There Was A Bonie Lass
Wee Willie Gray
O Aye My Wife She Dang Me
Gude Ale Keeps The Heart Aboon
O Steer Her Up An’ Haud Her Gaun
The Lass O’ Ecclefechan
O Let Me In Thes Ae Night
Her Answer
I’ll Aye Ca’ In By Yon Town
O Wat Ye Wha’s In Yon Town
Ballads on Mr. Heron’s Election, 1795
Inscription For An Altar Of Independence
The Cardin O’t, The Spinnin O’t
The Cooper O’ Cuddy
The Lass That Made The Bed To Me
Had I The Wyte? She Bade Me
Does Haughty Gaul Invasion Threat?
Address To The Woodlark
Song.—On Chloris Being Ill
How Cruel Are The Parents
Mark Yonder Pomp Of Costly Fashion
‘Twas Na Her Bonie Blue E’e
Their Groves O’Sweet Myrtle
Forlorn, My Love, No Comfort Near
Fragment,—Why, Why Tell The Lover
The Braw Wooer
This Is No My Ain Lassie
O Bonie Was Yon Rosy Brier
Song Inscribed To Alexander Cunningham
O That’s The Lassie O’ My Heart
Inscription
Fragment.—Leezie Lindsay
Fragment.—The Wren’s Nest
News, Lassies, News
Crowdie Ever Mair
Mally’s Meek, Mally’s Sweet
Jockey’s Taen The Parting Kiss
Verses To Collector Mitchell
Postscript
1796
The Dean Of Faculty
Epistle To Colonel De Peyster
A Lass Wi’ A Tocher
Heron Election Ballad, No. IV.
Complimentary Versicles To Jessie Lewars
O Lay Thy Loof In Mine, Lass
A Health To Ane I Loe Dear
O Wert Thou In The Cauld Blast
Inscription To Miss Jessy Lewars
Fairest Maid On Devon Banks
Summary and Analysis