Allan Ramsay: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Bonnie Chirsty

Allan Ramsay

“Bonnie Chirsty” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Allan Ramsay: Collected Lyrics Text 3 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

How sweetly smells the simmer green;

Sweet taste the peach and cherry;

Painting and order please our een,

And claret makes us merry:

But finest colours, fruits and flowers,

And wine, though I be thirsty,

Lose a' their charms, and weaker powers,

Compar'd wi' those of Chirsty.

When wand'ring o'er the flow'ry park,

No natural beauty wanting;

How lightsome is't to hear the lark,

And birds in concert chanting!

But if my Chirsty tunes her voice,

I'm rapt in admiration;

My thoughts wi' ecstasies rejoice,

And drap the haill creation.

Whene'er she smiles a kindly glance,

I take the happy omen,

And aften mint to make advance,

Hoping she'll prove a woman.

But, dubious of my ain desert,

My sentiments I smother,

Wi' secret sighs I vex my heart,

For fear she love another.

Thus sang blate Edie by a burn,

His Chirsty did o'er-hear him;

She doughtna let her lover mourn;

But, ere he wist, drew near him.

She spak' her favour wi' a look,

Which left nae room to doubt her:

He wisely this white minute took,

And flang his arms about her.

My Chirsty! witness, bonny stream,

Sic joys frae tears arising!

I wish this may na be a dream

O love the maist surprising!

Time was too precious now for tauk,

This point of a' his wishes

He wad na wi' set speeches bauk,

But wair'd it a' on kisses.

Credits

Written by Allan Ramsay

Words by Allan Ramsay. 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, “Bonnie Chirsty”

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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