John Imlah: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Caledonia 2

John Imlah

“Caledonia 2” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

John Imlah: 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

The lamp o' day its radiance threw

Far o'er the Grampian mountains blue,

'Mid burning clouds, when last adieu

I bade to Caledonia.

And as I mark'd the mountains high,

Like vapour melt 'tween sea and sky,

Deep breath'd my heart a prayer and sigh

For native Caledonia.

I love the streams, I love the linn,

That foamin' fa's wi' deaf'nin' din,

The bick'rin' burns that rowe within

The glens of Caledonia.

The lochs sae peaceful, lone, profound,

The misty mountains tow'ring round,

Whose echoing rocks at eve resound

The songs of Caledonia.

Credits

Written by John Imlah

Words by John Imlah. 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, “Caledonia 2”

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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