John Anderson, My Jo

Robert Burns · 1789 (published 1790)

Catalog grade guidance: 6–12 — Two short Scots stanzas.

17 content lines · 93 words · Est. recitation about 54 sec (approx.)

Public-domain text for reading and recitation practice. Source: Project Gutenberg #1279: Poems and Songs of Robert Burns (chronological arrangement).Estimated time uses ~120 words/minute plus short pauses—not a contest rule.

John Anderson, My Jo

     John Anderson, my jo, John,
     When we were first acquent;
     Your locks were like the raven,
     Your bonie brow was brent;
     But now your brow is beld, John,
     Your locks are like the snaw;
     But blessings on your frosty pow,
     John Anderson, my jo.

     John Anderson, my jo, John,
     We clamb the hill thegither;
     And mony a cantie day, John,
     We’ve had wi’ ane anither:
     Now we maun totter down, John,
     And hand in hand we’ll go,
     And sleep thegither at the foot,
     John Anderson, my jo.