David Vedder: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Aikendrum

David Vedder

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

David Vedder: 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

A warlock cam' to our town,

To our town, the slee loon;

His beard was grey, his cheeks brown,

And he look'd unco glum.

His cloak of Moffat tartan

Hung down beneath his garten,—

He cam' to spae my fortune;—

His name was Aikendrum.

His brow with time was wrinkled,

His hair with grey was sprinkled;

But, oh! his een they twinkled

Whene'er they gazed on me.

Then to the seat he hied him,

My titty had supplied him,—

I sat me down beside him,

Beneath our holly tree.

He took my hand discreetly,

And looked right sedately,

And scann'd it o'er completely,

With monie a haw and hum.

With transport then he seized it,

And to his lips he raised it,

And lovingly he squeezed it—

The gallant Aikendrum.

He slippit aff his grey beard,

His grey beard, his grey beard—

He doffed his cloak—his mask tear'd,

And threw 't ayont the lum;—

Then sweetly he addressd me,

And to his bosom press'd me:

'Twas Jamie that caress'd me!—

It wasna Aikendrum!

Credits

Written by David Vedder

Words by David Vedder. 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, “Aikendrum”

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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