Alexander Gordon: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Cauld Kail in Aberdeen 2

Alexander Gordon

“Cauld Kail in Aberdeen 2” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Alexander Gordon: Collected Lyrics Text 1 1843 · historical text
Public domainScottish songFolk
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from The Book of Scottish Song, edited by Alexander Whitelaw, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

There's cauld kail in Aberdeen,

And custocks in Stra'bogie,

Gin I ha'e but a bonnie lass,

Ye're welcome to your cogie.

And ye may sit up a' the night,

And drink till it be braid day-light:

Gi'e me a lass baith clean and tight,

To dance the reel o' Bogie.

In cotillions the French excel,

John Bull loves country dances;

The Spaniards dance fandangoes well;

Mynheer an allemande prances:

In foursome reels the Scots delight,

At threesome's they dance wondrous light,

But twasome's ding a' out o' sight,

Danc'd to the reel o' Bogie.

Come, lads, and view your partners weel,

Wale each a blythesome rogie:

I'll tak' this lassie to mysel',

She looks sae keen and vogie:

Now, piper lad, bang up the spring;

The country fashion is the thing,

To prie their mou's ere we begin

To dance the reel o' Bogie.

Now ilka lad has got a lass,

Save yon auld doited fogie,

And ta'en a fling upon the grass,

As they do in Stra'bogie;

But a' the lassies look sae fein,

We canna think oursel's to hain,

For they maun ha'e their come-again

To dance the reel o' Bogie.

Now a' the lads ha'e done their best,

Like true men o' Stra'bogie;

We'll stop a while and tak' a rest,

And tipple out a cogie.

Come now, my lads, and tak' your glass.

And try ilk other to surpass,

In wishing health to ev'ry lass,

To dance the reel o' Bogie.

Credits

Written by Alexander Gordon

Words by Alexander Gordon. Historical text published in The Book of Scottish Song (1843); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

The Book of Scottish Song (1843), edited by Alexander Whitelaw, “Cauld Kail in Aberdeen 2”

Every contribution in this 1843 anthology predates modern copyright terms by more than a century; any contributor died at least 130 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide (life+70 terms expired no later than 2020).

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-12. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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