Joseph Macgregor: Collected Lyrics
01 / 1
Public-domain lyrics

Laddie, oh, leave me

Joseph Macgregor

“Laddie, oh, leave me” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Joseph Macgregor: 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

Down whar the burnie rins whimplin' and cheery,

When love's star was smilin'; I met wi' my dearie;

Ah! vain was its smilin', she wadna believe me,

But said wi' a saucy air, "Laddie, Oh! leave me,

"Leave me, leave me, laddie. Oh! leave me."

"I've lo'ed thee o'er truly to seek a new dearie,

I've lo'ed thee o'er fondly, through life e'er to weary,

I've lo'ed thee o'er lang, love, at last to deceive thee:

Look cauldly or kindly, but bid me not leave thee."

Leave thee, leave thee, &c.

"There's nae ither saft e'e that fills me wi' pleasure,

There's nae ither rose-lip has half o' its treasure,

There's nae ither bower, love, shall ever receive me,

Till death break this fond heart—oh, then I maun leave thee."

Leave thee, leave thee, &c.

The tears o'er her cheeks ran like dew frae red roses;

What hope to the lover one tear-drop discloses;

I kiss'd them, and blest her, at last to relieve me

She yielded her hand, and sigh'd, "Oh! never leave me."

Leave me, leave me, &c.

Credits

Written by Joseph Macgregor

Words by Joseph Macgregor. 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, “Laddie, oh, leave me”

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

Keep reading the classics.

01Fight Fiercely, HarvardPublic-domain lyrics02The Old Dope PeddlerPublic-domain lyrics03Be PreparedPublic-domain lyrics04The Wild West Is Where I Want to BePublic-domain lyrics