A Portrait of Robert Burns Robert Burns

1792 · Poem

The Deil’s Awa Wi’ the Exciseman


The deil cam fiddlin’ thro’ the town,And danc’d awa wi’ th’ Exciseman,And ilka wife cries, “Auld Mahoun,I wish you luck o’ the prize, man.”4

Chorus

The deil’s awa, the deil’s awa,The deil’s awa wi’ the Exciseman,He’s danc’d awa, he’s danc’d awa,He’s danc’d awa wi’ the Exciseman.8
We’ll mak our maut, and we’ll brew our drink,We’ll laugh, sing, and rejoice, man,And mony braw thanks to the meikle black deil,That danc’d awa wi’ th’ Exciseman.12

Chorus

The deil’s awa, the deil’s awa,The deil’s awa wi’ the Exciseman,He’s danc’d awa, he’s danc’d awa,He’s danc’d awa wi’ the Exciseman.16
There’s threesome reels, there’s foursome reels,There’s hornpipes and strathspeys, man,But the ae best dance ere came to the landWas—the deil’s awa wi’ the Exciseman.20

Chorus

The deil’s awa, the deil’s awa,The deil’s awa wi’ the Exciseman,He’s danc’d awa, he’s danc’d awa,He’s danc’d awa wi’ the Exciseman.24
Year
1792
Form
Poem
Location
Dumfries
Source
Project Gutenberg #1279 — Poems and Songs of Robert Burns