Skip to content
Linespedia

When Januar' Wind.

By Robert Burns

Topics: classic

Tune - "The lass that made the bed for me." I.         When Januar' wind was blawing cauld,             As to the north I took my way,         The mirksome night did me enfauld,             I knew na where to lodge till day. II.         By my good luck a maid I met,             Just in the middle o' my care;         And kindly she did me invite             To walk into a chamber fair. III.         I bow'd fu' low unto this maid,             And thank'd her for her courtesie;         I bow'd fu' low unto this maid,             And bade her mak a bed to me. IV.         She made the bed baith large and wide,             Wi' twa white hands she spread it down;         She put the cup to her rosy lips,             And drank, "Young man, now sleep ye soun'." V.         She snatch'd the candle in her hand,             And frae my chamber went wi' speed;         But I call'd her quickly back again             To lay some mair below my head. VI.         A cod she laid below my head,             And served me wi' due respect;         And to salute her wi' a kiss,             I put my arms about her neck. VII.         "Haud aff your hands, young man," she says,             "And dinna sae uncivil be:         If ye hae onto love for me,             O wrang na my virginitie!" VIII.         Her hair was like the links o' gowd,             Her teeth were like the ivorie;         Her cheeks like lilies dipt in wine,             The lass that made the bed to me. IX.         Her bosom was the driven snaw,             Twa drifted heaps sae fair to see;         Her limbs the polish'd marble stane,             The lass that made the bed to me. X.         I kiss'd her owre and owre again,             And ay she wist na what to say;         I laid her between me and the wa'             The lassie thought na lang till day. XI.         Upon the morrow when we rose,             I thank'd her for her courtesie;         But aye she blush'd, and aye she sigh'd,             And said, "Alas! ye've ruin'd me." XII.         I clasp'd her waist, and kiss'd her syne,             While the tear stood twinklin' in her e'e;         I said, "My lassie, dinna cry,             For ye ay shall mak the bed to me." XIII.         She took her mither's Holland sheets,             And made them a' in sarks to me:         Blythe and merry may she be,             The lass that made the bed to me. XIV.         The bonnie lass made the bed to me,             The braw lass made the bed to me:         I'll ne'er forget till the day I die,             The lass that made the bed to me!

AI analysis available. Enable JavaScript to interact.

About this line

"Tune - "The lass that made the bed for me."..."

"When Januar' Wind." is a quintessential example of Robert Burns's signature style... ### Why We Love This Line At Linespedia, we believe that poetry is the ultimate sanctuary for the soul...

Attribution & Rights

Author:Robert Burns

"Tune - "The lass that made the bed for me."..." by Robert Burns

For usage rights, copyright concerns, or to report an issue with this content, please visit our Copyright & Report page.

Related lines

"Here souter Hood in death does sleep;             To h--ll, if he's gane thither,         Satan, gie him thy gear to keep,             He'l"

"A guid New-year I wish thee, Maggie!         Hae, there's a rip to thy auld baggie:         Tho' thou's howe-backit, now, an' knaggie,"

"How cold is that bosom which folly once fired,             How pale is that cheek where the rouge lately glisten'd!         How silent that"

"Tune - "Rory Dall's Port." I.         Ae fond kiss, and then we sever;         Ae fareweel, and then for ever!         Deep in heart-wrung"

"Here morning in the ploughman's songs is met     Ere yet one footstep shows in all the sky,     And twilight in the east, a doubt as yet,     S"

"The Text is taken from Percy's Reliques (1765), vol. i. p. 71, 'given from two MS. copies, transmitted from Scotland.' Herd had a very similar bal"

Robert Burns

About Robert Burns

Robert Burns (1759–1796) was Scotland's national poet, celebrated worldwide on Burns Night. He wrote in Scots and English, producing poems like "Auld Lang Syne," "A Red, Red Rose," and "To a Mouse," championing democratic values and the dignity of common people.

Full Bibliography
Continue Reading

"Here souter Hood in death does sleep;             ..."

Weekly Poetic Insight

Join our literary Sanctuary

Get the most inspiring lines, poetic analysis, and secret shayaris delivered to your inbox every Sunday.