Thomas Campbell: Collected Lyrics
02 / 3
Public-domain lyrics

Earl March

Thomas Campbell

“Earl March” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Thomas Campbell: Collected Lyrics Text 2 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

Earl March look'd on his dying child,

And smit with grief to view her—

The youth, he cried, whom I exiled

Shall be restored to woo her.

She's at the window many an hour,

His coming to discover;

And her love look'd up to Ellen's bower,

And she look'd on her lover.

But ah! so pale, he knew her not,

Though her smile on him was dwelling.

And am I then forgot—forgot?—

It broke the heart of Ellen.

In vain he weeps, in vain he sighs,

Her cheek is cold as ashes,

Nor love's own kiss shall wake those eyes

To lift their silken lashes.

Credits

Written by Thomas Campbell

Words by Thomas Campbell (died 1844). 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, “Earl March”

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 1844.

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

More from Thomas Campbell: Collected Lyrics.

01Dirge of WallacePublic-domain lyrics03Gilderoy 1Public-domain lyrics