---
title: "Tam Glen"
author: "Robert Burns"
form: "Song"
year: "1789"
location: "Ellisland"
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/tam-glen/"
---

# Tam Glen

## Song
My heart is a-breaking, dear Tittie,  
Some counsel unto me come len’,  
To anger them a’ is a pity,  
But what will I do wi’ Tam Glen?

I’m thinking, wi’ sic a braw fellow,  
In poortith I might mak a fen;  
What care I in riches to wallow,  
If I maunna marry Tam Glen!

There’s Lowrie the Laird o’ Dumeller—  
“Gude day to you, brute!” he comes ben:  
He brags and he blaws o’ his siller,  
But when will he dance like Tam Glen!

My minnie does constantly deave me,  
And bids me beware o’ young men;  
They flatter, she says, to deceive me,  
But wha can think sae o’ Tam Glen!

My daddie says, gin I’ll forsake him,  
He’d gie me gude hunder marks ten;  
But, if it’s ordain’d I maun take him,  
O wha will I get but Tam Glen!

Yestreen at the Valentine’s dealing,  
My heart to my mou’ gied a sten’;  
For thrice I drew ane without failing,  
And thrice it was written “Tam Glen”!

The last Halloween I was waukin  
My droukit sark-sleeve, as ye ken,  
His likeness came up the house staukin,  
And the very grey breeks o’ Tam Glen!

Come, counsel, dear Tittie, don’t tarry;  
I’ll gie ye my bonie black hen,  
Gif ye will advise me to marry  
The lad I lo’e dearly, Tam Glen.

---

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/tam-glen/