The Farewell

Robert Burns 1759 (Alloway) – 1796 (Dumfries)



IT was a' for our rightfu' King
   We left fair Scotland's strand;
It was a' for our rightfu' King
   We e'er saw Irish land,
   My dear--
   We e'er saw Irish land.

Now a' is done that men can do,
   And a' is done in vain;
My love and native land, farewell,
   For I maun cross the main,
   My dear--
   For I maun cross the main.

He turn'd him right and round about
   Upon the Irish shore;
And gae his bridle-reins a shake,
   With, Adieu for evermore,
   My dear--
   With, Adieu for evermore!

The sodger frae the wars returns,
   The sailor frae the main;
But I hae parted frae my love,
   Never to meet again,
   My dear--
   Never to meet again.

When day is gane, and night is come,
   And a' folk bound to sleep,
I think on him that 's far awa',
   The lee-lang night, and weep,
   My dear--
   The lee-lang night, and weep.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 24, 2023

48 sec read
199

Quick analysis:

Scheme AbABCB xdxDCD xexECE xdxFCF xgxGCG
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 841
Words 156
Stanzas 5
Stanza Lengths 6, 6, 6, 6, 6

Robert Burns

Robert Burns was a Scottish poet and lyricist. more…

All Robert Burns poems | Robert Burns Books

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