Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Highland Mary 1

Robert Burns

“Highland Mary 1” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 42 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

Ye banks, and braes, and streams around

The castle o' Montgomery,

Green be your woods, and fair your flow'rs,

Your waters never drumlie!

There simmer first unfauld her robes,

And there the langest tarry!

For there I took the last fareweel

O' my sweet Highland Mary.

How sweetly bloom'd the gay green birk,

How rich the hawthorn's blossom,

As underneath their fragrant shade,

I clasp'd her to my bosom!

The golden hours, on angel wings,

Flew o'er me and my dearie;

For dear to me as light and life

Was my sweet Highland Mary.

Wi' monie a vow, and lock'd embrace,

Our parting was fu' tender;

And pledging aft to meet again,

We tore ourselves asunder:

But, oh! fell death's untimely frost,

That nipt my flower so early!

Now green's the sod, and cauld's the clay,

That wraps my Highland Mary!

O pale, pale now those rosy lips

I aft ha'e kiss'd sae fondly!

And clos'd for aye the sparkling glance

That dwelt on me sae kindly;

And mouldering now in silent dust,

That heart that lo'ed me dearly!

But still within my bosom's core

Shall live my Highland Mary.

Credits

Written by Robert Burns

Words by Robert Burns (died 1796). 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, “Highland Mary 1”

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). The credited author died in 1796.

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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