Robert Tannahill: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Loudon's bonnie woods

Robert Tannahill

“Loudon's bonnie woods” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Robert Tannahill: Collected Lyrics Text 6 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

Loudon's bonnie woods and braes,

I maun leave them a', lassie;

Wha, can thole when Britain's faes

Would gi'e to Britons law, lassie?

Wha would shun the field o' danger?

Wha to fame would live a stranger?

Now when Freedom bids avenge her,

Wha would shun her ca', lassie?

Loudon's bonnie woods and braes,

Ha'e seen our happy bridal days,

And gentle hope shall soothe thy waes,

When I am far awa', lassie.

Hark! the swelling bugle rings,

Yielding joy to thee, laddie;

But the dolefu' bugle brings

Wacfu' thochts to me, laddie.

Lanely I may climb the mountain,

Lanely stray beside the fountain,

Still the weary moments counting,

Far frae love and thee, laddie.

Ower ths gory fields o' war,

Where Vengeance drives his crimson car,

Thou'lt maybe fa', frae me afar,

And nane to close thy e'e, laddie.

Oh, resume thy wonted smile,

Oh, suppress thy fears, lassie;

Glorious honour crowns the toil

That the soldier shares, lassie:

Heaven will shield thy faithful lover,

Till the vengeful strife is over;

Then we'll meet, nae mair to sever,

Till the day we dee, lassie:

Midst our bonnie woods and braes,

We'll spend our peaceful happy days,

As blythe's yon lichtsome lamb that plays

On Loudon's flowery lea, lassie.

Credits

Written by Robert Tannahill

Words by Robert Tannahill. 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, “Loudon's bonnie woods”

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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