Duncan Campbell (fl. 19th century): Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Highland Whisky

Duncan Campbell (fl. 19th century)

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

Duncan Campbell (fl. 19th century): 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

Ye social sons of Caledon,

Wha like to rant and roar, sirs,

Wha like to drink and laugh and sing,

And join a pot encore, sirs,

Attentive listen to my lay,

'Twill make ye blythe and frisky

WTien I relate, without delay,

The praise of Highland whisky.

Aboon a' drink it bears the cree,

It's a drink that never fails man,

Auld fools may drink their trash of tea,

And ither folks their ales, man;

To a Scotchman gi'e him barley bree,

If you would make him frisky,

And then he'll swear nocht will him fear,

For sic's the power of whisky.

Wi' brandy, or wi' foreign wine

He would not wet his craigie,

There's none of them can charms combine,

If match'd with the Kilbagie;

Then fill us up another glass,

And let us drink our fill, sirs,

What signifies the cutty stoup?

Bring in the Hawick gill, sirs.

What though o' siller we're bereft,

Sae muckle mair's the pity.

But while we ha'e a penny left

We'll gi'e't for aquavitae;

Then, O, my cheering, care-dispelling,

Heart-reviving whiskey,

Curse a' your foreign trash, say I,

Gi'e me good Highland whiskey.

Credits

Written by Duncan Campbell (fl. 19th century)

Words by Duncan Campbell (fl. 19th century). 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, “Highland Whisky”

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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