Peter McArthur (fl. 1843): Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Mary Shaw

Peter McArthur (fl. 1843)

“Mary Shaw” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Peter McArthur (fl. 1843): 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

When Mary Shaw cam' to our valley,

Sweet and gentle was her form—

A lily blossom drooping palely

'Neath the frown of early storm.

Sad was her smile, but words o' pleasure

Ever left her guileless tongue;

We wonder'd aft that heaven's treasure

Fill'd the heart o' ane sae young.

She wander'd where the violet's blossom

Spent its fragrance in the shade,

Aft she bid it on her bosom

Softly rest its purpled head.

But aye it droop'd in pining sorrow,

And seem'd as if it whispering said,

Dear sister, ere the winters morrow,

Cold will be our narrow bed.

And when the year was sadly waning,

Ere the rough winds 'gan to rave,

Young JIary faded. imcompLoining,

Wasted to an early grave.

Now o'er her bed the autumn morrow

Strews the wither'd flower and leaf,

And the wind wakes its sighs of sorrow,

In concert with our tears of grief.

Credits

Written by Peter McArthur (fl. 1843)

Words by Peter McArthur (fl. 1843). 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, “Mary Shaw”

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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