John Mayne: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

My Johnnie

John Mayne

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

John Mayne: 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

Jenny's heart was frank and free,

And wooers she had mony, yet

Her sang was aye, Of a' I see,

Commend me to my Johnnie yet.

For, air and late, he has sic gate

To mak' a body cheerie, that

I wish to be, before I die,

His ain kind dearie yet.

Now Jenny's face was fu' o' grace,

Her shape was sma' and genty-like,

And few or nane in a' the place

Had gowd and gear more plenty, yet

Though war's alarms, and Johnnie's charms,

Had gart her aft look eerie, yet

She sung wi' glee, I hope to be

My Johnnie's ain dearie yet.

What tho' he's now gaen far awa',

Where guns and cannons rattle, yet

Unless my Johnnie chance to fa'

In some uncanny battle, yet

Till he return, my breast will burn

Wi' love that weel may cheer me yet,

For I hope to see, before I die,

His bairns to him endear me yet.

Credits

Written by John Mayne

Words by John Mayne. 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, “My Johnnie”

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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