---
title: "Rantin’, Rovin’ Robin"
author: "Robert Burns"
form: "Song"
year: "1785"
tune: "Daintie Davie"
location: "Mossgiel"
source: "Project Gutenberg #1279 — Poems and Songs of Robert Burns"
source_url: "https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1279/pg1279.txt"
canonical_url: "https://robert-burns.com/poems/rantin-rovin-robin/"
---

# Rantin’, Rovin’ Robin

## Song
There was a lad was born in Kyle,  
But whatna day o’ whatna style,  
I doubt it’s hardly worth the while  
To be sae nice wi’ Robin.

*Chorus*  
Robin was a rovin’ boy,  
Rantin’, rovin’, rantin’, rovin’,  
Robin was a rovin’ boy,  
Rantin’, rovin’, Robin!

Our monarch’s hindmost year but ane  
Was five-and-twenty days begun,  
’Twas then a blast o’ Janwar’ win’  
Blew hansel in on Robin.

*Chorus*  
Robin was a rovin’ boy,  
Rantin’, rovin’, rantin’, rovin’,  
Robin was a rovin’ boy,  
Rantin’, rovin’, Robin!

The gossip keekit in his loof,  
Quo’ scho, “Wha lives will see the proof,  
This waly boy will be nae coof:  
I think we’ll ca’ him Robin.”

*Chorus*  
Robin was a rovin’ boy,  
Rantin’, rovin’, rantin’, rovin’,  
Robin was a rovin’ boy,  
Rantin’, rovin’, Robin!

“He’ll hae misfortunes great an’ sma’,  
But aye a heart aboon them a’,  
He’ll be a credit till us a’—  
We’ll a’ be proud o’ Robin.”

*Chorus*  
Robin was a rovin’ boy,  
Rantin’, rovin’, rantin’, rovin’,  
Robin was a rovin’ boy,  
Rantin’, rovin’, Robin!

“But sure as three times three mak nine,  
I see by ilka score and line,  
This chap will dearly like our kin’,  
So leeze me on thee! Robin.”

*Chorus*  
Robin was a rovin’ boy,  
Rantin’, rovin’, rantin’, rovin’,  
Robin was a rovin’ boy,  
Rantin’, rovin’, Robin!

“Guid faith,” quo’, scho, “I doubt you gar  
The bonie lasses lie aspar;  
But twenty fauts ye may hae waur  
So blessins on thee! Robin.”

*Chorus*  
Robin was a rovin’ boy,  
Rantin’, rovin’, rantin’, rovin’,  
Robin was a rovin’ boy,  
Rantin’, rovin’, Robin!

## Footnotes
1. Not published by Burns.
2. January 25, 1759, the date of my bardship’s vital existence.—R.B.

---

Source: [Project Gutenberg #1279 — Poems and Songs of Robert Burns](https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1279/pg1279.txt)  
Canonical HTML: https://robert-burns.com/poems/rantin-rovin-robin/