John Clunie and Hector Macneill: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

I lo'ed ne'er a laddie but ane

John Clunie and Hector Macneill

“I lo'ed ne'er a laddie but ane” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

John Clunie and Hector Macneill: 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

I lo'ed ne'er a laddie but ane;

He lo'ed ne'er a lassie but me;

He's willing to mak' me his ain;

And his ain I am willing to be.

He has coft me a rokelay o' blue,

And a pair o' mittens o' green;

The price was a kiss o' my mou';

And I paid him the debt yestreen.

Let ithers brag weel o' their gear,

Their land, and their lordly degree;

I carena for aught but my dear,

For he's ilka thing lordly to me:

His words are sae sugar'd, sae sweet!

His sense drives ilk fear far awa'!

I listen, poor fool! and I greet;

Yet how sweet are the tears as they fa'!

Dear lassie, he cries wi' a jeer,

Ne'er heed what the auld anes will say;

Though we've little to brag o'—ne'er fear;

What's gowd to a heart that is wae?

Our laird has baith honours and wealth,

Yet see how he's dwining wi' care;

Now we, though we've naething but health,

Are cantie and leal evermair.

O Marion! the heart that is true,

Has something mair costly than gear

Ilk e'en it has naething to rue—

Ilk morn it has naething to fear.

Ye warldlings, ga'e hoard up your store,

And tremble for fear ought you tyne;

Guard youi treasures wi' lock, bar, and door,

While here in my arms I lock mine!

He ends wi' a kiss and a smile—

Wae's me, can I tak' it amiss!

My laddie's unpractised in guile,

He's free aye to daut and to kiss!

Ye lasses wha lo'e to torment

Your wooers wi' fause scorn and strife,

Play your pranks—I ha'e gi'en my consent,

And this night I am Jamie's for life.

Credits

Written by John Clunie and Hector Macneill

Words by John Clunie and Hector Macneill. 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, “I lo'ed ne'er a laddie but ane”

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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