James Hogg: Collected Lyrics
05 / 7
Public-domain lyrics

Her blue rollin' e'e

James Hogg

“Her blue rollin' e'e” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

James Hogg: Collected Lyrics Text 5 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

My lassie is lovely as May-day, adorning

Wi' gowans an' primroses ilka green lee;

Tho' sweet is the violet, new blown i' the morning,

As tender an' sweet is her blue rollin' e'e.

I say, what is whiter than snaw on the mountain?

Or what wi' the red rose in beauty can vie?

Yes, whiter her bosom than snaw on the mountain,

And bonnie her face as the red rose can be.

See yon lowly cottage that stands by the wild wood,

Hedged round wi' sweet briar and green willow tree;

'Twas yonder I spent the first days of my childhood,

And first felt the power o' a love-rollin' e'e.

Tho' soon frae my hame and my lassie I wander'd,

Tho' lang I've been tossing on fortune's rough sea,

Aye dear was the valley where Ettrick meander'd;

Aye dear was the blink o' her blue rollin' e'e.

O for the evening, and O for the hour,

When down by yon greenwood she promised to be;

When quick as the summer dew dries on the flower,

A' earthly affections and wishes wad flee.

Let Art and let Nature display their proud treasure;

Let Paradise boast o' what ance it could gi'e;

As high is my bliss, and as sweet is my pleasure,

In the heart-melting blink o' my lassie's blue e'e.

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, “Her blue rollin' e'e”

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.
Keep tracing

More from James Hogg: Collected Lyrics.

01A Boy's SongPublic-domain lyrics02BirniebouzlePublic-domain lyrics03Caledonia 3Public-domain lyrics04Donald MacdonaldPublic-domain lyrics