Bessy And Her Spinnin’ Wheel

Track 330 on Poems And Songs Of Robert Burns

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Bessy And Her Spinnin’ Wheel Lyrics

O Leeze me on my spinnin' wheel,
And leeze me on my rock and reel;
Frae tap to tae that cleeds me bien,
And haps me biel and warm at e'en;
I'll set me down and sing and spin,
While laigh descends the simmer sun,
Blest wi' content, and milk and meal,
O leeze me on my spinnin' wheel.

On ilka hand the burnies trot,
And meet below my theekit cot;
The scented birk and hawthorn white,
Across the pool their arms unite,
Alike to screen the birdie's nest,
And little fishes' caller rest;
The sun blinks kindly in the beil',
Where blythe I turn my spinnin' wheel.

On lofty aiks the cushats wail,
And Echo cons the doolfu' tale;
The lintwhites in the hazel braes,
Delighted, rival ither's lays;
The craik amang the claver hay,
The pairtrick whirring o'er the ley,
The swallow jinkin' round my shiel,
Amuse me at my spinnin' wheel.
Wi' sma' to sell, and less to buy,
Aboon distress, below envy,
O wha wad leave this humble state,
For a' the pride of a' the great?
Amid their flairing, idle toys,
Amid their cumbrous, dinsome joys,
Can they the peace and pleasure feel
Of Bessy at her spinnin' wheel?

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Poems And Songs Of Robert Burns

Robert Burns

1.
Song—Handsome Nell^1
2.
Song—O Tibbie, I Hae Seen The Day
3.
Song—I Dream’d I Lay
4.
Song—In The Character Of A Ruined Farmer
5.
Tragic Fragment
6.
Tarbolton Lasses, The
7.
Montgomerie’s Peggy
8.
Ploughman’s Life, The
9.
Lass Of Cessnock Banks, The^1
10.
Song—Mary Morison
11.
Winter: A Dirge
12.
Prayer, Under The Pressure Of Violent Anguish
13.
Paraphrase Of The First Psalm
14.
First Six Verses Of The Ninetieth Psalm Versified, The
15.
Prayer, In The Prospect Of Death
16.
Stanzas, On The Same Occasion
17.
Fickle Fortune: A Fragment
18.
Raging Fortune—Fragment Of Song
19.
Impromptu—”I’ll Go And Be A Sodger”
20.
Song—”No Churchman Am I”
21.
A Stanza Added In A Mason Lodge
22.
My Father Was A Farmer
23.
John Barleycorn: A Ballad
24.
Death And Dying Words Of Poor Mailie, The Author’s Only Pet Yowe., The
25.
Poor Mailie’s Elegy
26.
Song—The Rigs O’ Barley
27.
Song Composed In August
28.
Song
29.
Song—Green Grow The Rashes
30.
Song—Wha Is That At My Bower-Door
31.
Remorse: A Fragment
32.
Epitaph On Wm. Hood, Senr., In Tarbolton
33.
Epitaph On James Grieve, Laird Of Boghead, Tarbolton
34.
Epitaph On My Own Friend And My Father’s Friend, Wm. Muir In Tarbolton Mill
35.
Epitaph On My Ever Honoured Father
36.
Ballad On The American War
37.
Reply To An Announcement By J. Rankine On His Writing To The Poet,
38.
Epistle To John Rankine
39.
A Poet’s Welcome To His Love-Begotten Daughter^1
40.
Song—O Leave Novels^1
41.
Fragment—The Mauchline Lady
42.
Fragment—My Girl She’s Airy
43.
The Belles Of Mauchline
44.
Epitaph On A Noisy Polemic
45.
Epitaph On A Henpecked Country Squire
46.
Epigram On The Said Occasion
47.
Another
48.
On Tam The Chapman
49.
Epitaph On John Rankine
50.
Lines On The Author’s Death
51.
Man Was Made To Mourn: A Dirge
52.
The Twa Herds; Or, The Holy Tulyie
53.
Epistle To Davie, A Brother Poet
54.
Holy Willie’s Prayer
55.
Epitaph On Holy Willie
56.
Death and Doctor Hornbook
57.
Epistle To J. Lapraik, An Old Scottish Bard
58.
Second Epistle To J. Lapraik
59.
Epistle To William Simson
60.
Postcript
61.
One Night As I Did Wander
62.
Tho’ Cruel Fate Should Bid Us Part
63.
Song—Rantin’, Rovin’ Robin^1
64.
Elegy On The Death Of Robert Ruisseaux^1
65.
Epistle To John Goldie, In Kilmarnock
66.
The Holy Fair^1
67.
Third Epistle To J. Lapraik
68.
Epistle To The Rev. John M’math
69.
Second Epistle to Davie
70.
Song—Young Peggy Blooms
71.
Song—Farewell To Ballochmyle
72.
Fragment—Her Flowing Locks
73.
Halloween^1
74.
Epitaph On John Dove, Innkeeper
75.
Epitaph For James Smith
76.
Adam Armour’s Prayer
77.
The Jolly Beggars: A Cantata^1A
78.
Song—For A’ That^1
79.
Song—Merry Hae I Been Teethin A Heckle
80.
The Cotter’s Saturday Night
81.
Address To The Deil
82.
Scotch Drink
83.
The Auld Farmer’s New-Year-Morning Salutation To His Auld Mare, Maggie
84.
The Twa Dogs^1
85.
The Author’s Earnest Cry And Prayer
86.
The Ordination
87.
Epistle To James Smith
88.
The Vision
89.
Suppressed Stanza’s Of “The Vision”
90.
Address To The Unco Guid, Or The Rigidly Righteous
91.
The Inventory^1
92.
To John Kennedy, Dumfries House
93.
To Mr. M’Adam, Of Craigen-Gillan
94.
To A Louse, On Seeing One On A Lady’s Bonnet, At Church
95.
Song, Composed In Spring
96.
Thomson’s Edward and Eleanora
97.
Farewell Song To The Banks Of Ayr
98.
Masonic Song
99.
Tam Samson’s Elegy
100.
The Epitaph
101.
Per Contra
102.
Epistle To Major Logan
103.
Fragment On Sensibility
104.
A Winter Night
105.
Song—Yon Wild Mossy Mountains
106.
Address To Edinburgh
107.
Address To A Haggis
108.
To Miss Logan, With Beattie’s Poems, For A New-Year’s Gift, Jan. 1, 1787
109.
Mr. William Smellie—A Sketch
110.
Song—Bonie Dundee
111.
Extempore In The Court Of Session
112.
Inscription For The Headstone Of Fergusson The Poet^1
113.
Epistle To Mrs. Scott
114.
Verses Intended To Be Written Below A Noble Earl’s Picture^1
115.
Prologue
116.
The Bonie Moor-Hen
117.
Song—My Lord A-Hunting
118.
Epigram At Roslin Inn
119.
Epigram Addressed To An Artist
120.
The Book-Worms
121.
On Elphinstone’s Translation Of Martial’s Epigrams
122.
Song—A Bottle And Friend
123.
Epitaph For William Nicol, Of The High School, Edinburgh
124.
Epitaph For Mr. William Michie
125.
Address To Wm. Tytler, Esq., Of Woodhouselee
126.
Epigram To Miss Ainslie In Church
127.
Burlesque Lament For The Absence Of William Creech, Publisher
128.
Note To Mr. Renton Of Lamerton
129.
Elegy On “Stella”
130.
The Bard At Inverary
131.
Epigram To Miss Jean Scott
132.
On The Death Of John M’Leod, Esq,
133.
Elegy On The Death Of Sir James Hunter Blair
134.
Impromptu On Carron Iron Works
135.
To Miss Ferrier
136.
Written By Somebody On The Window
137.
The Poet’s Reply To The Threat Of A Censorious Critic
138.
The Libeller’s Self-Reproof^1
139.
Verses Written With A Pencil
140.
Song—The Birks Of Aberfeldy
141.
The Humble Petition Of Bruar Water
142.
Lines On The Fall Of Fyers Near Loch-Ness
143.
Epigram On Parting With A Kind Host In The Highlands
144.
Strathallan’s Lament^1
145.
Castle Gordon
146.
Song—Lady Onlie, Honest Lucky
147.
Theniel Menzies’ Bonie Mary
148.
The Bonie Lass Of Albany^1
149.
On Scaring Some Water-Fowl In Loch-Turit
150.
Blythe Was She^1
151.
A Rose-Bud By My Early Walk
152.
Epitaph For Mr. W. Cruikshank^1
153.
Song—The Banks Of The Devon
154.
Braving Angry Winter’s Storms
155.
Song—My Peggy’s Charms
156.
The Young Highland Rover
157.
Birthday Ode For 31st December, 1787^1
158.
On The Death Of Robert Dundas, Esq., Of Arniston,
159.
Sylvander To Clarinda^1
160.
Love In The Guise Of Friendship
161.
Go On, Sweet Bird, And Sooth My Care
162.
Clarinda, Mistress Of My Soul
163.
I’m O’er Young To Marry Yet
164.
To The Weavers Gin Ye Go
165.
M’Pherson’s Farewell
166.
Stay My Charmer
167.
Song—My Hoggie
168.
Raving Winds Around Her Blowing
169.
Up In The Morning Early
170.
Hey, The Dusty Miller
171.
Duncan Davison
172.
The Lad They Ca’Jumpin John
173.
Talk Of Him That’s Far Awa
174.
To Daunton Me
175.
The Winter It Is Past
176.
The Bonie Lad That’s Far Awa
177.
Verses To Clarinda
178.
The Chevalier’s Lament
179.
Epistle To Hugh Parker
180.
Of A’ The Airts The Wind Can Blaw^1
181.
Song—I Hae a Wife O’ My Ain
182.
Lines Written In Friars’-Carse Hermitage
183.
To Alex. Cunningham, ESQ., Writer
184.
Song.—Anna, Thy Charms
185.
The Fete Champetre
186.
Epistle To Robert Graham, Esq., Of Fintry
187.
Song.—The Day Returns
188.
Song.—O, Were I On Parnassus Hill
189.
A Mother’s Lament
190.
The Fall Of The Leaf
191.
I Reign In Jeanie’s Bosom
192.
My Bonie Mary
193.
The Parting Kiss
194.
Written In Friar’s-Carse Hermitage
195.
The Poet’s Progress
196.
Elegy On The Year 1788
197.
The Henpecked Husband
198.
Versicles On Sign-Posts
199.
Robin Shure In Hairst
200.
Ode, Sacred To The Memory Of Mrs. Oswald Of Auchencruive
201.
Pegasus At Wanlockhead
202.
Sappho Redivivus—A Fragment
203.
Song—She’s Fair And Fause
204.
Impromptu Lines To Captain Riddell
205.
Lines To John M’Murdo, Esq. Of Drumlanrig
206.
Rhyming Reply To A Note From Captain Riddell
207.
Caledonia—A Ballad
208.
To Miss Cruickshank
209.
Beware O’ Bonie Ann
210.
Ode On The Departed Regency Bill
211.
Epistle To James Tennant Of Glenconner
212.
A New Psalm For The Chapel Of Kilmarnock
213.
Sketch In Verse
214.
The Wounded Hare
215.
Delia, An Ode
216.
The Gard’ner Wi’ His Paidle
217.
On A Bank Of Flowers
218.
Young Jockie Was The Blythest Lad
219.
The Banks Of Nith
220.
Jamie, Come Try Me
221.
I Love My Love In Secret
222.
Sweet Tibbie Dunbar
223.
The Captain’s Lady
224.
John Anderson, My Jo
225.
My Love, She’s But A Lassie Yet
226.
Song—Tam Glen
227.
Carle, An The King Come
228.
The Laddie’s Dear Sel’
229.
Whistle O’er The Lave O’t
230.
My Eppie Adair
231.
On The Late Captain Grose’s Peregrinations Thro’ Scotland
232.
Epigram On Francis Grose The Antiquary
233.
The Kirk Of Scotland’s Alarm
234.
Presentation Stanzas To Correspondents
235.
Sonnet On Receiving A Favour
236.
Extemporaneous Effusion
237.
Song—Willie Brew’d A Peck O’ Maut
238.
Ca’ The Yowes To The Knowes
239.
I Gaed A Waefu’ Gate Yestreen
240.
Highland Harry Back Again
241.
The Battle Of Sherramuir
242.
The Braes O’ Killiecrankie
243.
Awa’ Whigs, Awa’
244.
A Waukrife Minnie
245.
The Captive Ribband
246.
My Heart’s In The Highlands
247.
The Whistle—A Ballad
248.
To Mary In Heaven
249.
Epistle To Dr. Blacklock
250.
The Five Carlins
251.
Election Ballad For Westerha’
252.
Prologue Spoken At The Theatre Of Dumfries
253.
Sketch—New Year’s Day, 1790
254.
Scots’ Prologue For Mr. Sutherland
255.
Lines To A Gentleman,
256.
Elegy On Willie Nicol’s Mare
257.
The Gowden Locks Of Anna
258.
Postscript
259.
Song—I Murder Hate
260.
Gudewife, Count The Lawin
261.
Election Ballad
262.
Elegy On Captain Matthew Henderson
263.
The Epitaph (”Stop, passenger!...”)
264.
Verses On Captain Grose
265.
On The Birth Of A Posthumous Child
266.
Elegy On The Late Miss Burnet Of Monboddo
267.
Lament Of Mary, Queen Of Scots, On The Approach Of Spring
268.
There’ll Never Be Peace Till Jamie Comes Hame
269.
Song—Out Over The Forth
270.
The Banks O’ Doon—First Version
271.
The Banks O’ Doon—Second Version
272.
The Banks O’ Doon—Third Version
273.
Lament For James, Earl Of Glencairn
274.
Lines Sent To Sir John Whiteford, Bart
275.
Craigieburn Wood
276.
Epigram On Miss Davies
277.
The Charms Of Lovely Davies
278.
What Can A Young Lassie Do Wi’ An Auld Man
279.
The Posie
280.
On Glenriddell’s Fox Breaking His Chain
281.
Poem On Pastoral Poetry
282.
Verses On The Destruction Of The Woods Near Drumlanrig
283.
The Gallant Weaver
284.
Epigram At Brownhill Inn^1
285.
Lovely Polly Stewart
286.
Fragment,—Damon And Sylvia
287.
Johnie Lad, Cock Up Your Beaver
288.
My Eppie Macnab
289.
Altho’ He Has Left Me
290.
My Tocher’s The Jewel
291.
O For Ane An’ Twenty, Tam
292.
Thou Fair Eliza
293.
My Bonie Bell
294.
Sweet Afton
295.
Address To The Shade Of Thomson
296.
Nithsdale’s Welcome Hame
297.
Frae The Friends And Land I Love
298.
Such A Parcel Of Rogues In A Nation
299.
Ye Jacobites By Name
300.
I Hae Been At Crookieden
301.
O Kenmure’s On And Awa, Willie
302.
Epistle To John Maxwell, ESQ., Of Terraughty
303.
Second Epistle To Robert Graham, ESQ., Of Fintry
304.
The Song Of Death
305.
Poem On Sensibility
306.
The Toadeater
307.
Divine Service In The Kirk Of Lamington
308.
The Keekin’-Glass
309.
A Grace Before Dinner, Extempore
310.
A Grace After Dinner, Extempore
311.
O May, Thy Morn
312.
Ae Fond Kiss, And Then We Sever
313.
Behold The Hour, The Boat, Arrive
314.
Thou Gloomy December
315.
My Native Land Sae Far Awa
316.
I do Confess Thou Art Sae Fair
317.
Lines On Fergusson, The Poet
318.
The Weary Pund O’ Tow
319.
When She Cam’ Ben She Bobbed
320.
Scroggam, My Dearie
321.
My Collier Laddie
322.
Sic A Wife As Willie Had
323.
Lady Mary Ann
324.
Kellyburn Braes
325.
The Slave’s Lament
326.
O Can Ye Labour Lea?
327.
The Deuks Dang O’er My Daddie
328.
The Deil’s Awa Wi’ The Exciseman
329.
The Country Lass
330.
Bessy And Her Spinnin’ Wheel
331.
Love For Love
332.
Saw Ye Bonie Lesley
333.
Fragment Of Song
334.
I’ll Meet Thee On The Lea Rig
335.
My Wife’s A Winsome Wee Thing
336.
Highland Mary
337.
Auld Rob Morris
338.
The Rights Of Woman
339.
Epigram On Seeing Miss Fontenelle In A Favourite Character
340.
Extempore On Some Commemorations Of Thomson
341.
Duncan Gray
342.
Here’s A Health To Them That’s Awa
343.
A Tippling Ballad
344.
Poortith Cauld And Restless Love
345.
On Politics
346.
Braw Lads O’ Galla Water
347.
Sonnet Written On The Author’s Birthday,
348.
Wandering Willie—First Version
349.
Wandering Willie—Revised Version
350.
Lord Gregory
351.
Open The Door To Me, Oh
352.
Lovely Young Jessie
353.
Meg O’ The Mill
354.
Meg O’ The Mill—Another Version
355.
The Soldier’s Return
356.
The True Loyal Natives
357.
On Commissary Goldie’s Brains
358.
Lines Inscribed In A Lady’s Pocket Almanac
359.
Thanksgiving For A National Victory
360.
Lines On The Commemoration Of Rodney’s Victory
361.
The Raptures Of Folly
362.
Kirk and State Excisemen
363.
Extempore Reply To An Invitation
364.
Grace After Meat
365.
Grace Before And After Meat
366.
Impromptu On General Dumourier’s Desertion From The French Republican Army
367.
The Last Time I Came O’er The Moor
368.
Logan Braes
369.
Blythe Hae I been On Yon Hill
370.
O Were My Love Yon Lilac Fair
371.
Bonie Jean—A Ballad
372.
Lines On John M’Murdo, ESQ
373.
Epitaph On A Lap-Dog
374.
Epigrams Against The Earl Of Galloway
375.
Epigram On The Laird Of Laggan
376.
Song—Phillis The Fair
377.
Song—Had I A Cave
378.
Song—By Allan Stream
379.
Whistle, And I’ll Come To You, My Lad
380.
Phillis The Queen O’ The Fair
381.
Come, Let Me Take Thee To My Breast
382.
Dainty Davie
383.
Robert Bruce’s March To Bannockburn
384.
Behold The Hour, The Boat Arrive (”Behold the hour...”)
385.
Down The Burn, Davie
386.
Thou Hast Left Me Ever, Jamie
387.
Where Are The Joys I have Met?
388.
Deluded Swain, The Pleasure
389.
Thine Am I, My Faithful Fair
390.
On Mrs. Riddell’s Birthday
391.
My Spouse Nancy
392.
Address
393.
Complimentary Epigram On Maria Riddell
394.
Remorseful Apology
395.
Wilt Thou Be My Dearie?
396.
A Fiddler In The North
397.
The Minstrel At Lincluden
398.
A Vision (”As I stood by yon”...)
399.
A Red, Red Rose
400.
Young Jamie, Pride Of A’ The Plain
401.
The Flowery Banks Of Cree
402.
Monody
403.
The Epitaph (”Here lies, now ...”)
404.
Pinned To Mrs. Walter Riddell’s Carriage
405.
Epitaph For Mr. Walter Riddell
406.
Epistle From Esopus To Maria
407.
Epitaph On A Noted Coxcomb
408.
On Capt. Lascelles
409.
On Wm. Graham, Esq., Of Mossknowe
410.
On John Bushby, Esq., Tinwald Downs
411.
Sonnet On The Death Of Robert Riddell
412.
The Lovely Lass O’ Inverness
413.
Charlie, He’s My Darling
414.
Bannocks O’ Bear Meal
415.
The Highland Balou
416.
The Highland Widow’s Lament
417.
It Was A’ For Our Rightfu’ King
418.
Ode For General Washington’s Birthday
419.
Inscription To Miss Graham Of Fintry
420.
On The Seas And Far Away
421.
Ca’ The Yowes To The Knowes—Second Version
422.
She Says She Loes Me Best Of A’
423.
To Dr. Maxwell
424.
To The Beautiful Miss Eliza J—N
425.
On Chloris
426.
On Seeing Mrs. Kemble In Yarico
427.
Epigram On A Country Laird,
428.
On Being Shewn A Beautiful Country Seat
429.
On Hearing It Asserted Falsehood
430.
On A Suicide
431.
On A Swearing Coxcomb
432.
On An Innkeeper Nicknamed “The Marquis”
433.
On Andrew Turner
434.
Pretty Peg
435.
Esteem For Chloris
436.
Saw Ye My Dear, My Philly
437.
How Lang And Dreary Is The Night
438.
Inconstancy In Love
439.
The Lover’s Morning Salute To His Mistress
440.
The Winter Of Life
441.
Behold, My Love, How Green The Groves
442.
The Charming Month Of May
443.
Lassie Wi’ The Lint-White Locks
444.
Dialogue song—Philly And Willy
445.
Contented Wi’ Little And Cantie Wi’ Mair
446.
Farewell Thou Stream
447.
Canst Thou Leave Me Thus, My Katie
448.
My Nanie’s Awa
449.
The Tear-Drop
450.
For The Sake O’ Somebody
451.
A Man’s A Man For A’ That
452.
Craigieburn Wood (”Sweet fa’s the eve...”)
453.
The Solemn League And Covenant
454.
Lines sent with a Present of a Dozen of Porter
455.
Inscription On A Goblet
456.
Apology For Declining An Invitation To Dine
457.
Epitaph For Mr. Gabriel Richardson
458.
Epigram On Mr. James Gracie
459.
Bonie Peg-a-Ramsay
460.
Inscription At Friars’ Carse Hermitage
461.
There Was A Bonie Lass
462.
Wee Willie Gray
463.
O Aye My Wife She Dang Me
464.
Gude Ale Keeps The Heart Aboon
465.
O Steer Her Up An’ Haud Her Gaun
466.
The Lass O’ Ecclefechan
467.
O Let Me In Thes Ae Night
468.
Her Answer
469.
I’ll Aye Ca’ In By Yon Town
470.
O Wat Ye Wha’s In Yon Town
471.
Ballads on Mr. Heron’s Election, 1795
472.
Inscription For An Altar Of Independence
473.
The Cardin O’t, The Spinnin O’t
474.
The Cooper O’ Cuddy
475.
The Lass That Made The Bed To Me
476.
Had I The Wyte? She Bade Me
477.
Does Haughty Gaul Invasion Threat?
478.
Address To The Woodlark
479.
Song.—On Chloris Being Ill
480.
How Cruel Are The Parents
481.
Mark Yonder Pomp Of Costly Fashion
482.
’Twas Na Her Bonie Blue E’e
483.
Their Groves O’Sweet Myrtle
484.
Forlorn, My Love, No Comfort Near
485.
Fragment,—Why, Why Tell The Lover
486.
The Braw Wooer
487.
This Is No My Ain Lassie
488.
O Bonie Was Yon Rosy Brier
489.
Song Inscribed To Alexander Cunningham
490.
O That’s The Lassie O’ My Heart
491.
Inscription
492.
Fragment.—Leezie Lindsay
493.
Fragment.—The Wren’s Nest
494.
News, Lassies, News
495.
Crowdie Ever Mair
496.
Mally’s Meek, Mally’s Sweet
497.
Jockey’s Taen The Parting Kiss
498.
Verses To Collector Mitchell
499.
Postscript (”Ye’ve heard this while...”)
500.
The Dean Of Faculty
501.
Epistle To Colonel De Peyster
502.
A Lass Wi’ A Tocher
503.
Heron Election Ballad, No. IV.
504.
Complimentary Versicles To Jessie Lewars
505.
O Lay Thy Loof In Mine, Lass
506.
A Health To Ane I Loe Dear
507.
O, Wert Thou In The Cauld Blast
508.
Inscription To Miss Jessy Lewars
509.
Fairest Maid On Devon Banks

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Bessy And Her Spinnin’ Wheel

Bessy And Her Spinnin’ Wheel Lyrics

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