Robert Burns composed “Holy Willie’s Prayer” in 1785 and printed it anonymously four years later. He chose to hide his identity because the poem satirizes a real person, Willie Fisher, and refers to an actual conflict between Fisher and Burns’ friend Gavin Hamilton in Mauchline, East Ayrshire, Scotland. Burns presents a “prayer” spoken by Fisher, whom he ironically calls “Holy Willie,” even though the prayer reveals that Fisher was not holy at all and was, in fact, a hypocrite who expected perfection from others (and chastised them harshly when they failed to achieve it) while excusing himself of his own sins.

Stanzas 1-2

Holy Willie begins his prayer with a statement of his theology. He thinks that God does just as He pleases, sending one to Heaven and ten to Hell no matter what they have done in life. This reflects the Calvinist doctrine of the Church of Scotland, which taught that God rather arbitrarily sent people to Heaven or Hell according to His will alone.

Of course, Willie firmly believes he is one of those chosen for Heaven. He praises God for the light and grace He has given him “When thousands Thou hast left in night.” Willie has access to God, or so he thinks.

Stanzas 3-5

The speaker then asks God why he should be so exalted. He deserved damnation “For broken laws” just as much as the rest of humanity because of Adam’s sin. Willie remarks that God could have chosen to send him to hell “To gnash my gums, and weep and wail” and suffer fire and torment for all eternity. “Yet I am here a chosen sample,” the speaker continues, in whom God shows His grace. Willie considers himself a pillar of God’s Temple, “Strong as a rock,” and a guide and example for God’s people.

Stanzas 6-9

Next, Willie declares to God how zealously he behaves toward people who drink, swear, sing, and dance. For fear of God, the speaker stays away from such sinners. But Willie has to confess that sometimes “fleshly lust” gets the best of him, too.

Willie begs pardon for his fling with Meg the day before. He prays that the act will not dishonor him, promising never to “lift a lawless leg” on her again if God will protect his reputation. He also admits to having had relations with “Leezie’s lass” three times, but he was drunk then, or he would never have done it.

Stanzas 10-11

Willie speculates on why God allows him to do such acts. Perhaps, he thinks, it is a “fleshly thorn” that keeps him from getting too proud since he is so “gifted.” Then the speaker asks God to bless him, His chosen one, and to confound and punish those who try to bring disgrace upon church elders like himself. Those people are stubborn and wicked.

Stanzas 12-13

Holy Willie has one particular wicked person in mind, and he wants God to give Gavin Hamilton exactly what he has coming. Hamilton plays cards and drinks, swears, and steals the people’s hearts away from the church’s elders (like Willie himself). And when those church elders “chasten’d him,” scolded him to change his ways, Hamilton merely laughed. So now Willie wants God to curse Hamilton’s prosperity and kill his crops.

Stanzas 14-15

Willie is also upset that the Presbytery of Ayr, the church court, ruled against him in his suit against Hamilton. He tells God, “Lord visit them, an’ dinna spare, / For their misdeeds.” He wants revenge, and in that vengeance, he includes the “glib-tongu’d Aitken, Hamilton’s attorney. While Willie and his party were so afraid that they wet themselves, Aitkin smoothly presented and won Hamilton’s case.

Stanzas 16-17

Now, Willie calls on God to bring “Thy day o’ vengeance” on these sinners and not give them any mercy or hear their prayers. He calls on God to destroy his enemies. But at the same time, he prays, “remember me an’ mine” with all blessings and grace so that Willie may shine before all people, “Excell’d by name” and best of them all. He promises to give God the glory.