James Hogg: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Birniebouzle

James Hogg

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

James Hogg: Collected Lyrics Text 2 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

Will ye gang wi' me, lassie,

To the braes o' Birniebouzle?

Baith the yird an' sea, lassie,

Will I rob to fend ye.

I'll hunt the otter an' the brock,

The hart, the hare, an' heather cock,

An' pu' the limpet aff the rock,

To batten an' to mend ye.

If ye'll gang wi' me lassie,

To the braes o' Birniebouzle,

Till the day you dee, lassie,

Want shall ne'er come near ye.

The peats I'll carry in a scull,

The cod an' ling wi' hooks I'll pull,

An' reave the eggs o' mony a gull,

To please my dainty dearie.

Sae canty will we be, lassie,

At the braes o' Birniebouzle,

Donald Gun and me, lassie,

Ever sail attend ye.

Though we ha'e nowther milk nor meal,

Nor lamb nor mutton, beef nor veal,

We'll fank the porpy and the seal,

And that's the way to fend ye.

An' ye sall gang sae braw, lassie,

At the kirk o' Birniebouzle,

Wi' littit brogues an' a', lassie,

Wow but ye'll be vaunty!

An' you sall wear, when you are wed,

The kirtle an' the Heeland plaid,

An' sleep upon a heather bed,

Sae cozy an' sae canty.

If ye'll but marry me, lassie,

At the kirk o' Birniebouzle,

A' my joy shall be, lassie,

Ever to content ye.

I'll bait the line and bear the pail,

An' row the boat and spread the sail,

An' drag the larry at my tail,

When mussel hives are plenty.

Then come awa' wi' me, lassie,

To the braes o' Birniebouzle;

Bonny lassie, dear lassie,

You shall ne'er repent ye.

For you shall own a bught o' ewes,

A brace o' gaits, and byre o' cows,

An' be the lady o' my house,

An' lads an' lasses plenty.

Credits

Written by James Hogg

Words by James Hogg. 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, “Birniebouzle”

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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