---
title: "Theniel Menzies’ Bonie Mary"
subtitle: "Air—“The Ruffian’s Rant,” or “Roy’s Wife.”"
author: "Robert Burns"
form: "Poem"
year: "1787"
location: "Edinburgh"
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/theniel-menzies-bonie-mary/"
---

# Theniel Menzies’ Bonie Mary

### Air—“The Ruffian’s Rant,” or “Roy’s Wife.”

## Poem
In comin by the brig o’ Dye,  
At Darlet we a blink did tarry;  
As day was dawnin in the sky,  
We drank a health to bonie Mary.

*Chorus*  
Theniel Menzies’ bonie Mary,  
Theniel Menzies’ bonie Mary,  
Charlie Grigor tint his plaidie,  
Kissin’ Theniel’s bonie Mary.

Her een sae bright, her brow sae white,  
Her haffet locks as brown’s a berry;  
And aye they dimpl’t wi’ a smile,  
The rosy cheeks o’ bonie Mary.

*Chorus*  
Theniel Menzies’ bonie Mary,  
Theniel Menzies’ bonie Mary,  
Charlie Grigor tint his plaidie,  
Kissin’ Theniel’s bonie Mary.

We lap a’ danc’d the lee-lang day,  
Till piper lads were wae and weary;  
But Charlie gat the spring to pay  
For kissin Theniel’s bonie Mary.

*Chorus*  
Theniel Menzies’ bonie Mary,  
Theniel Menzies’ bonie Mary,  
Charlie Grigor tint his plaidie,  
Kissin’ Theniel’s bonie Mary.

---

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/theniel-menzies-bonie-mary/