---
title: "Wha Is That at My Bower-Door"
author: "Robert Burns"
form: "Song"
year: "1783"
tune: "Lass, an I come near thee"
location: "Lochlea"
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/wha-is-that-at-my-bower-door/"
---

# Wha Is That at My Bower-Door

## Song
“Wha is that at my bower-door?”  
“O wha is it but Findlay!”  
“Then gae your gate, ye’se nae be here:”  
“Indeed maun I,” quo’ Findlay;  
“What mak’ ye, sae like a thief?”  
“O come and see,” quo’ Findlay;  
“Before the morn ye’ll work mischief:”  
“Indeed will I,” quo’ Findlay.

“Gif I rise and let you in”—  
“Let me in,” quo’ Findlay;  
“Ye’ll keep me waukin wi’ your din;”  
“Indeed will I,” quo’ Findlay;  
“In my bower if ye should stay”—  
“Let me stay,” quo’ Findlay;  
“I fear ye’ll bide till break o’ day;”  
“Indeed will I,” quo’ Findlay.

“Here this night if ye remain”—  
“I’ll remain,” quo’ Findlay;  
“I dread ye’ll learn the gate again;”  
“Indeed will I,” quo’ Findlay.  
“What may pass within this bower”—  
“Let it pass,” quo’ Findlay;  
“Ye maun conceal till your last hour:”  
“Indeed will I,” quo’ Findlay.

---

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/wha-is-that-at-my-bower-door/