Anonymous: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Comin' thro' the rye 1

Anonymous

“Comin' thro' the rye 1” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Anonymous: 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

Gin a body meet a body

Comin' frae the well,

Gin a body kiss a body—

Need a body tell?

Ilka Jenny has her Jocky,

Ne'er a ane ha'e I;

But a' the lads they look at me—

And what the waur am I?

Gin a body meet a body,

Comin' frae the town, (or thro' the broom,)

Gin a body kiss a body—

Need a body gloom? &c.

Verse 2

Coming through the rye, poor body,

Coming through the rye,

She draiglet a' her petticoatie,

Coming through the rye.

Oh Jenny's a' wat, poor body,

Jenny's seldom dry;

She draiglet a' her petticoatie,

Coming through the rye.

Gin a body meet a body—

Coming through the rye,

Gin a body kiss a body—

Need a body cry?

Gin a body meet a body

Coming through the glen,

Gin a body kiss a body—

Need the warld ken?

Oh Jenny's a' wat, poor body;

Jenny's seldom dry;

She draiglet a' her petticoatie,

Coming through the rye.

Credits

Written by Anonymous

Words by Anonymous. 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, “Comin' thro' the rye 1”

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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