Angus Fletcher: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Lassie wi' the raven locks

Angus Fletcher

“Lassie wi' the raven locks” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Angus Fletcher: Collected Lyrics Text 2 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

Lassie wi' the raven locks,

Charming lassie, Highland lassie;

Gladly wad I tend thy flocks,

Bonnie Highland Mary, O.

Where Echaig Joins the briny tide,

And Cowal's hills spread far and wide,

Alang the winding banks o' Clyde,

I met wi' Highland Mary, O.

Lassie wi", &c.

Her foot sae neatly mark'd the sand,

An' gently waved her lily hand,

As, slow, she traced the sea-beat strand,

The lovely Highland Mary, O.

Lassie wi', &c.

How mildly glanced her hazel e'e!

Like sunbeams on the dewy lea:—

It, stowlins, wiled the heart frae me,

The witching smile of Mary, O.

Lassie wi', &c.

Her eye-brows of a jetty-hue;

Her lips "like rose-buds moist wi' dew;"

A sweeter face ne'er bless'd my view

Than youthfu' Highland Mary's, O.

Lassie wi', &c.

Though pure the flowers that blaw unseen

Amang her native woodlands green,

Yet purer far's the heart, I ween,

Of artless Highland Mary, O.

Lassie wi', &c.

Let others range frae isle to isle,

Where never-ending simmers smile:—

Mair dear the groves o' Ballochyle,

That shelter Highland Mary, O.

Lassie wi', &c.

I'd cheerfu' toil frae dawn o' day,

O'er yon lone glen and ferny brae,

Could I but get, by gloaming grey,

Ae blythsome blink o' Mary, O.

Lassie wi', &c.

O may nae cloud the sun o'ercast,

To chill this floweret's snawie breast!

Nae reptile's breath untimely blast

The op'ning bloom of Mary,!

Lassie wi', &c.

Credits

Written by Angus Fletcher

Words by Angus Fletcher. 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, “Lassie wi' the raven locks”

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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