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My Father was A Farmer (Poem by Robert Burns)

Robert Burns’s poem “My Father Was a Farmer” explores the values of honesty, hard work, contentment, and happiness.
Farmer’s Wisdom by the Fields

My Father was A Farmer (1)
By Robert Burns


My father was a farmer
    Upon the Carrick border, O,
And carefully he bred me,
    In decency and order, O;
He bade me act a manly part,
    Though I had ne’er a farthing, O;
For without an honest manly heart,
    No man was worth regarding, O.


My Father was A Farmer (2)


Then out into the world
    My course I did determine, O;
Tho’ to be rich was not my wish,
    yet to be great was charming, O:
My talents they were not the worst,
    Nor yet my education, O;
Resolv’d was I, at least to try,
    To mend my situation, O.


My Father was A Farmer (3)


In many a way, and vain essay,
    I courted fortune’s favour, O;
Some cause unseen still stept between,
    To frustrate each endeavour, O:
Sometimes by foes I was o’erpower’d,
    Sometimes by friends forsaken, O,
And when my hope was at the top,
    I still was worst mistaken, O.


My Father was A Farmer (4)


Then sore harass’d, and tir’d at last,
    With fortune’s vain delusion, O,
I dropt my schemes, like idle dreams,
    And came to this conclusion, O:
The past was bad, and the future hid;
    Its good or ill untried, O;
But the present hour, was in my pow’r
    And so I would enjoy it, O.


My Father was A Farmer (5)


No help, nor hope, nor view had I,
    Nor person to befriend me, O;
So I must toil, and sweat and broil,
    And labour to sustain me, O:
To plough and sow, to reap and mow,
    My father bred me early, O;
For one, he said, to labour bred,
    Was a match for fortune fairly, O.


My Father was A Farmer (6)


Thus all obscure, unknown, and poor,
    Thro’ life I’m doom’d to wander, O,
Till down my weary bones I lay,
    In everlasting slumber, O.
No view nor care, but shun whate’er
    Might breed me pain or sorrow, O:
I live to-day as well’s I may,
    Regardless of to-morrow, O.


My Father was A Farmer (7)


But cheerful still, I am as well,
    As a monarch in a palace, O,
Tho’ Fortune’s frown still hunts me down,
    With all her wonted malice, O:
I make indeed my daily bread,
    But ne’er can make it farther, O;
But, as daily bread is all I need,
    I do not much regard her, O.


My Father was A Farmer (8)


When sometimes by my labour
    I earn a little money, O,
Some unforeseen misfortune
    Comes gen’rally upon me, O:
Mischance, mistake, or by neglect,
    Or my goodnatur’d folly, O;
But come what will, I’ve sworn it still,
    I’ll ne’er be melancholy, O.


My Father was A Farmer (9)


All you who follow wealth and power,
    With unremitting ardour, O,
The more in this you look for bliss,
    You leave your view the farther, O:
Had you the wealth Potosi boasts,
    Or nations to adorn you, O,
A cheerful honest-hearted clown
    I will prefer before you, O.

Poem Analysis:

Robert Burns’s poem “My Father Was a Farmer” explores the values of honesty, hard work, contentment, and happiness. Through the experiences of the speaker, Burns contrasts the pursuit of wealth and social status with the importance of living a simple and morally upright life.

At the beginning of the poem, the speaker remembers his father as a farmer who raised him with discipline and good values. His father taught him that an honest and courageous heart was more important than money. The lines “For without an honest manly heart, / No man was worth regarding” express the poem’s central moral principle: a person’s true worth depends on character rather than material possessions.

As the speaker enters the world, he hopes to improve his social and economic position. However, repeated failures, disappointments, and betrayals prevent him from achieving his ambitions. These experiences reveal the uncertainty of fortune and the limitations of human effort. Eventually, he decides to stop worrying excessively about the future and appreciate the present moment. His attitude reflects the belief that happiness does not always depend on success or wealth.

Another important theme is contentment and independence. Although the speaker remains poor, he refuses to surrender to sadness. He declares that he is as cheerful as “a monarch in a palace,” suggesting that inner happiness can be more valuable than outward riches. His determination never to become melancholy demonstrates his resilience in the face of misfortune.

In the final stanza, Burns directly criticizes the endless pursuit of wealth and power. He argues that people who constantly seek greater riches may move further away from genuine happiness. The speaker consequently prefers “a cheerful honest-hearted clown” to wealthy and powerful individuals who may lack contentment. This contrast reinforces the poem’s message that simplicity, honesty, and a positive outlook are essential to a fulfilling life.

Burns uses simple language, regular rhyme, repetition, and a song-like rhythm to make the poem engaging and memorable. The repeated expressions ending in “O” give it a folk-song quality, while the conversational voice makes the speaker’s experiences feel personal and sincere.

“My Father Was a Farmer” celebrates honesty, perseverance, and contentment while questioning society’s obsession with wealth and power. Burns reminds readers that although people cannot always control their circumstances, they can choose their attitudes toward life. Ultimately, genuine happiness comes from appreciating what one has and remaining faithful to one’s moral values.

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