Merry Hae I been Teethin a Heckle
The speaker celebrates the happiness of his daily work: he teethes a heckle, shapes a spoon, and clouts a kettle, then kisses his beloved Katie when his labour is done. He works, whistles, and sings throughout the day, and spends the night cuddling his kimmer, feeling as happy as a king. He contrasts this contentment with his unhappy marriage to Bess, for whom he gave his earnings and became a slave. He blesses the hour of Bess’s death and the bird that sings on her grave, then calls Katie to his arms, drinks to her whether sober or drunken, and blesses the day he married again.
By Robert Burns · First published 1792 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Scottish Vernacular Poetry, Folk Song · 226 words
First lines
Tune-"The bob O' Dumblane."
O Merry hae I been teethin' a heckle, / An' merry hae I been shapin' a spoon; / O merry hae I been cloutin' a kettle, / An' kissin' my Katie when a' was done. / O a' the lang day I ca' at my hammer, / An' a' the lang day I whistle and sing; / O a' the lang night I cuddle my kimmer, / An' a' the lang night as happy's a king.
Bitter in idol I lickit my winnins / O' marrying Bess, to gie her a slave: / Blest be the hour she cool'd in her linnens, / And blythe be the bird that sings on her grave! / Come to my arms, my Katie, my Katie; / O come to my arms and kiss me again! / Drucken or sober, here's to thee, Katie! / An' blest be the day I did it again.
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Genres
- Lyric Poetry — A short, songlike first-person poem expressing the speaker's joy in labor, love, and domestic companionship.
- Scottish Vernacular Poetry — The poem is written prominently in Scots dialect, using vernacular vocabulary and rhythms associated with Burns's Scottish poetic practice.
- Folk Song — Its specified tune, repeated refrains, simple stanzaic structure, and celebratory voice give it the character of a traditional Scottish song.
- Love Poetry — The central emotional subject is the speaker's ardent affection for Katie, expressed through repeated invitations, kisses, and praise.
Tags
Scottish vernacular poetry · Scots language · lyric poem · song lyric · working-class life · artisan labor · blacksmithing · domestic happiness · romantic love · marital contrast · remarriage · unhappy first marriage
What this Textopian page supports
Merry Hae I been Teethin a Heckle is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Burns, dated 1792 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: 1792 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Scottish Vernacular Poetry, Folk Song, Love Poetry, Pastoral and Rural Poetry
- Length: 226 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Merry Hae I been Teethin a Heckle by Robert Burns
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