Ann Allardyce: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Fair in Kinrara

Ann Allardyce

“Fair in Kinrara” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Ann Allardyce: 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

Fair in Kinrara blooms the rose,

And softly waves the drooping lily,

Where beauty's faded charms repose,

And splendour rests on earth's cold pillow.

Her smile, who sleeps in yonder bed,

Could once awake the soul to pleasure,

When fashion's airy train she led,

And form'd the dance's frolic measure.

When war call'd forth our youth to arms,

Her eye inspired each martial spirit;

Her mind, too, felt the muse's charms,

And gave the meed to modest merit.

But now farewell, fair northern star,

Thy beams no more shall courts enlighten,

No more lead forth our youth to arms,

No more the rural pastures brighten.

Long, long thy loss shall Scotia mourn;

Her vales, which thou were wont to gladden,

Shall long look cheerless and forlorn,

And grief the minstrel's music sadden.

And oft, amid the festive scene,

Where pleasure cheats the midnight pillow,

A sigh shall breathe for noble Jane,

Laid low beneath Kinrara's willow.

Credits

Written by Ann Allardyce

Words by Ann Allardyce. 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, “Fair in Kinrara”

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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