by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796)
Here's to thy health, my bonnie lass
Language: English
Here's to thy health, my bonnie lass, Gude night, and joy be wi' thee; I'll come nae mair to thy bower door, To tell thee that I love thee. O dinna think, my pretty pink, But I can live without thee; I vow and swear I dinna care How lang ye look about ye. Thou'rt ay sae free informing me Thou hast nae mind to marry; I'll be as free informing thee Nae time hae I to tarry. I ken thy friends try ilka means, Frae wedlock to delay thee, Depending on some higher chance; But fortune may betray thee. I ken they scorn my low estate, But that does never grieve me; But I'm as free as any he, Sma' siller will relieve me. I count my health my greatest wealth, Sae lang as I'll enjoy it; I'll fear nae scant, I'll bode nae want, As lang's I get employment. But far off fowls hae feathers fair, And ay until ye try them; Tho' they seem fair, still have a care, They may prove waur than I am. But at twel' at night, when the moon shines bright, My dear, I'll come and see thee; For the man that loves his mistress weel Nae travel makes him weary.
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Robert Burns, The Caledonian Musical Museum [edited by his son], London: J. Dick, 1809, pages 227 - 228.
Text Authorship:
- by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), no title, appears in Scots Musical Museum [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Adolf Wilhelm Ernst von Winterfeld (1824 - 1888) , "Dein Wohlsein, meine schöne Maid" ; composed by Wilhelm Tappert.
Researcher for this page: Melanie Trumbull
This text was added to the website: 2022-01-11
Line count: 32
Word count: 209