Dr. Percy: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

There grows a bonnie brier bush

Dr. Percy

“There grows a bonnie brier bush” as printed in The Scottish Minstrel (Second Series) (1851).

Dr. Percy: Collected Lyrics Text 2 1851 · historical text
Public domainScottish songFolk
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from The Scottish Minstrel (Second Series), a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

There grows a bonnie brier bush in our kailyard,

And white are the blossoms o't in our kailyard;

Like wee bit white cockauds for our loyal Hieland lads;

And the lasses lo'e the bonnie bush in our kailyard.

Verse 2

But were they a' true that were far away?

Oh! were they a' true that were far awa?

They drew up wi' glaikit Englishers at Carlisle ha',

And forgot auld frien's when far awa.

Verse 3

Ye'll come nae mair, Jamie, where aft you've been:

Ye'll come nae mair, Jamie, to Athol's green;

Ye lo'ed owre weel the dancin' at Carlisle ha',

And forgot the Hieland hills that were far awa.

Verse 4

He's comin' frae the north that's to fancy me—

He's comin' frae the north that's to fancy me;

A feather in his bonnet, and a ribbon at his knee;

He's a bonnie Hieland laddie, and you be na he.

Credits

Written by Dr. Percy

Words by Dr. Percy. Historical text published in The Scottish Minstrel (Second Series) (1851); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

The Scottish Minstrel (Second Series) (1851), “There grows a bonnie brier bush”

Every contribution in this 1851 anthology predates modern copyright terms; any contributor died more than 130 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide.

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 2026-10-25. 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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