Francis Bennoch: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Hey, my bonnie wee lassie

Francis Bennoch

“Hey, my bonnie wee lassie” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Francis Bennoch: Collected Lyrics Text 4 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

"Hey, my bonnie wee lassie,

Blythe and cheerie wee Lassie,

Will ye wed a canty carle,

Bonnie, bonnie wee lassie?

"I ha'e sheep an' I ha'e kye,

I ha'e wheat an' I ha'e rye,

An' heaps of siller, lass, forbye,

That ye shall spen' wi' me, lassie!

Hey, my bonnie wee lassie,

Blythe and cheerie wee lassie,

Will ye wed a canty carle,

Bonnie, bonnie wee lassie?

"Ye shall dress in damasks fine,

My gowd and gear shall a' be thine,

And I to ye be ever kind,

Say,—will ye marry me, lassie?

Hey, my bonnie wee lassie,

BIythe and cheerie wee lassie,

Will ye wed a canty carle,—

Bonnie, smiling wee lassie."

"Gae hame, auld man, an' darn your hose,

Fill up your lanky sides wi' brose,

An' at the ingle warm your nose,

But come na courtin' me, carle.

O ye clavering auld carle,

Silly, clavering auld carle,

The hawk an' doo shall pair, I trow,

Before I pair wi' ye, carle!

"Your heart is cauld an' hard as stanes,

Ye ha'e nae marrow in your banes,

An' siller canna buy the brains

That pleasure gi'es to me, carle!

O ye tottering auld carle,

Silly, clavering auld carle,

The hound an' bare may seek ae lair,

But I'll no sleep wi' ye, carle.

"I winna share your gowd wi' ye,

Your withering heart an' watery e'e;

In death I'd sooner shrouded be,

Than wedded to ye, auld carle!

O ye tottering auld carle,

Silly, clavering auld carle,

When roses blaw on wreaths o' snaw,

I'll bloom upon your breast, carle!

"But there's a lad, an' I'm his ain,

May Heaven blessings on him rain!

Though plackless, he is unco fain,

And he 's the man for me, carle!

O youth an' age can ne'er agree;

Though rich, you're no the man for me.

Gae hame, auld carle, prepare to die;

Pray Heaven to be your bride, carle!"

Credits

Written by Francis Bennoch

Words by Francis Bennoch. 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, “Hey, my bonnie wee lassie”

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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