Banks Of Doon / Robert Burns

I.

Ye flowery banks o' bonnie Doon,

How can ye bloom sae fair;

How can ye chant, ye little birds,

And I sae fu' o' care!

II.

Thou'll break my heart, thou bonnie bird,

That sings upon the bough;

Thou minds me o' the happy days

When my fause love was true.

III.

Thou'll break my heart, thou bonnie bird,

That sings beside thy mate;

For sae I sat, and sae I sang,

And wist na o' my fate.

IV.

Aft hae I rov'd by bonnie Doon,

To see the woodbine twine,

And ilka bird sang o' its love;

And sae did I o' mine.

V.

Wi' lightsome heart I pu'd a rose,

Frae aff its thorny tree:

And my fause luver staw the rose,

But left the thorn wi' me.

* * * * *

THE BANKS O' DOON.

[SECOND VERSION.]

I.

Ye banks and braes o' bonnie Doon,

How can ye bloom sae fresh and fair;

How can ye chant, ye little birds,

And I sae weary, fu' o' care!

Thou'lt break my heart, thou warbling bird,

That wantons thro' the flowering thorn:

Thou minds me o' departed joys,

Departed--never to return!

II.

Aft hae I rov'd by bonnie Doon,

To see the rose and woodbine twine;

And ilka bird sang o' its luve,

And fondly sae did I o' mine.

Wi' lightsome heart I pu'd a rose,

Fu' sweet upon its thorny tree;

And my fause luver stole my rose,

But, ah! he left the thorn wi' me.

* * * * *

Another “First Version”:

Sweet are the banks--the banks o' Doon,

The spreading flowers are fair,

And everything is blythe and glad,

But I am fu' o' care.

Thou'll break my heart, thou bonie bird,

That sings upon the bough;

Thou minds me o' the happy days

When my fause Luve was true:

Thou'll break my heart, thou bonie bird,

That sings beside thy mate;

For sae I sat, and sae I sang,

And wist na o' my fate.

Aft hae I rov'd by bonie Doon,

To see the woodbine twine;

And ilka birds sang o' its Luve,

And sae did I o' mine:

Wi' lightsome heart I pu'd a rose,

Upon its thorny tree;

But my fause Luver staw my rose

And left the thorn wi' me:

Wi' lightsome heart I pu'd a rose,

Upon a morn in June;

And sae I flourished on the morn,

And sae was pu'd or noon!