Burns' song is based on a late 17th century broadside ballad, "The Trappan'd Maiden, Or, The Distressed Damsel", about an English girl sold to Virginia.

Give ear unto a maid,
That lately was betray'd,
And sent into Virginny O:
In brief I shall declare,
What I have suffered there,
When that I was weary,
weary, weary, weary, O.

For texts see ZN966 in the broadside ballad index on my website. Click