Here's his Health in Water by Robert Burns
The speaker, though abandoned and brought low by a man who is himself the cause of her distress, drinks to his health only in water. She bitterly condemns the women who pass by his amorous side, saying he can flatter them finely, while she is severely slighted for his sake and must endure public gossip. Despite her hurt, exclusion, and resentment, she repeats the ironic toast to him.
By Robert Burns · First published 1793 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Scottish Poetry, Song · 146 words
First lines
Tune-"The Job of Journey-work."
Altho' my back be at the wa', / And tho' he be the fautor; / Altho' my back be at the wa', / Yet, here's his health in water. / O wae gae by his wanton sides, / Sae brawlie's he could flatter; / Till for his sake I'm slighted sair, / And dree the kintra clatter: / But tho' my back be at the wa', / And tho' he be the fautor; / But tho' my back be at the wa', / Yet here's his health in water!
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Genres
- Lyric Poetry — A short, song-like first-person poem built around repeated lines and an emotional refrain.
- Scottish Poetry — It is written in Scots dialect and reflects Robert Burns's characteristic engagement with Scottish language and vernacular song traditions.
- Song — The specified tune, recurring chorus-like lines, and compact stanzaic structure identify it as a lyric intended for singing.
- Love Poetry — The speaker expresses wounded devotion toward a man whose conduct has caused her rejection and suffering.
Tags
Scottish vernacular poetry · love lament · unrequited love · romantic betrayal · abandonment · female speaker · heartbreak · jealousy · resentment · ironic toast · drinking song · water as a motif
What this Textopian page supports
Here's his Health in Water is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Burns, dated 1793 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Robert Burns
- Date: 1793 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Scottish Poetry, Song, Love Poetry, Lament
- Length: 146 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
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- Work identity for Here's his Health in Water by Robert Burns
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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