Thomas D'Urfey: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Glancing of her Apron

Thomas D'Urfey

“Glancing of her Apron” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Thomas D'Urfey: 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

In January last,

On Munanday at morn,

As through the fields I past,

To view the winter corn,

I looked me behind,

And saw come o'er the knowe,

And glancing in her apron,

With a bonnie brent brow.

I said, Good-morrow, fair maid,

And she right courteously

Return'd a beck, and kindly said,

Good-day, sweet Sir, to you.

I speir'd, My dear, how far awa'

Do ye intend to gae?

Quoth she, I mean a mile or twa

Out o'er yon broomy brae.

Verse 2

Fair maid, I'm thankfu' to my fate,

To have sic company;

For I'm ganging straight that gate,

Where ye intend to be.

When we had gane a mile or twain,

I said to her, My dow,

May we not lean us on this plain,

And kiss your bonnie mou'.

Verse 3

Kind sir, ye are a wee mistane;

For I am nane of these,

I hope you some mair breeding ken,

Than to ruffle women's claise:

For may be I have chosen ane,

And plighted him my vow,

Wha may do wi' me what ho likes,

And kiss my bonnie mou'.

Verse 4

Na, if ye are contracted,

I ha'e nae mair to say:

Rather than be rejected,

I will gi'e o'er the play;

And chuse anithcr will respect

My love, and on me rew;

And let me clasp her round the neck,

And kiss her bonnie mou'.

Verse 5

O sir, ye are proud hearted,

And laith to be said nay,

Else ye wad ne'er 'a started

For ought that I did say,

For women in their modesty,

At first they winna bow;

But if we like your company,

We'll prove as kind as you.

Credits

Written by Thomas D'Urfey

Words by Thomas D'Urfey. 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, “Glancing of her Apron”

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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