| Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900. |
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| Robert Burns. 1759–1796 |
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| 505. The Farewell |
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| 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— | 5 |
| We e'er saw Irish land. | |
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| 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, | 10 |
| My dear— | |
| For I maun cross the main. | |
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| He turn'd him right and round about | |
| Upon the Irish shore; | |
| And gae his bridle-reins a shake, | 15 |
| With, Adieu for evermore, | |
| My dear— | |
| With, Adieu for evermore! | |
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| The sodger frae the wars returns, | |
| The sailor frae the main; | 20 |
| But I hae parted frae my love, | |
| Never to meet again, | |
| My dear— | |
| Never to meet again. | |
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| When day is gane, and night is come, | 25 |
| 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. | 30 |
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GLOSS: lee-lang] livelong. |
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