The Farewell

By Robert Burns

1759-1796


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.

DayPoems Poem No. 457
<a href="http://www.daypoems.net/poems/457.html">The Farewell by Robert Burns</a>

The DayPoems Poetry Collection, www.daypoems.net
Timothy Bovee, editor

Poets  Poems