James Carnegie: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Low down in the broom

James Carnegie

“Low down in the broom” as printed in The Scottish Minstrel (Second Series) (1851).

James Carnegie: Collected Lyrics Text 1 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

My daddie is a cankert carle

He'll no twine wi' his gear;

My minnie she's a scauldin' wife,

Hauds a' the house asteer.

Verse 2

But let them say, or let them do,

It's a' ane to me,

For he's low doun, he's in the broom

That's waiting on me:

Waiting on me, my love,

He's waiting on me:

For he's low doun, he's in the broom,

That's waiting on me.

Verse 3

My auntie Kate sits at her wheel,

And sair she lightlies me;

But weel ken I it's a' envy,

For ne'er a joe has she.

But let them say, &c.

Verse 4

My cousin Bess was sair beguiled

Wi' Johnny o' the Glen;

And aye sinsyne she cries, beware

O' fause deluding men.

But let them say, &c.

Verse 5

Gleed Sandy he cam wast yestreen,

And speer'd when I saw Pate;

And aye sinsyne the neebors round

They jeer me air and late.

But let them say, &c.

Credits

Written by James Carnegie

Words by James Carnegie. 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), “Low down in the broom”

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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