Richard Gall: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Farewell to Ayrshire

Richard Gall

“Farewell to Ayrshire” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Richard Gall: 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

Scenes of woe and scenes of pleasure,

Scenes that former thoughts renew,

Scenes of woe and scenes of pleasure,

Now a sad and tast adieu!

Bonnie Doon, sae sweet at gloamin',

Fare thee weel before I gang!

Bonnie Doon, whare, early roaming,

First I weaved the rustic sang!

Bowers, adieu! whare love decoying,

First enthrall'd this heart o' mine;

There the saftest sweets enjoying,

Sweets that memory ne'er shall tine.

Friends, sae near my bosom ever,

Ye ha'e render'd moments dear,

But, alas! whan forced to sever,

Then the stroke, oh! how severe.

Friends, that parting tear, reserve it,

Though 'tis doubly dear to me;

Could I think I did deserve it,

How much happier would I be!

Scenes of woe and scenes of pleasure,

Scenes that former thoughts renew,

Scenes of woe and scenes of pleasure,

Now a sad and last adieu!

Credits

Written by Richard Gall

Words by Richard Gall. 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, “Farewell to Ayrshire”

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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