Thomas Dick: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

How early I woo'd thee

Thomas Dick

“How early I woo'd thee” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Thomas Dick: 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

How early I woo'd thee—how dearly I lo'ed thee—

How sweet was thy voice, and how lovely thy smile;

The joy 'twas to see thee—the bliss to be wi' thee—

I now maun reinember, and sigh all the while.

I gazed on thy beauty, and a' things about thee

Seem'd too fair for earth, as I bent at thy shrine,

But fortune and fashion, inair powerfu' than passion,

Could alter the bosom that seem'd so divine.

Anither may praise thee, may fondle and fraize thee,

And win thee wi' words when his heart's far awa';

But oh! when sincerest—when warmest and dearest

His vows, will my truth be forgot by thee a'?

'Mid pleasures and splendour thy fancy may wander,

But moments o' solitude ilk ane maun dree;

Then feeling will find thee, and mem'ry remind thee

O' him wha through life gaes heart-broken for thee.

Credits

Written by Thomas Dick

Words by Thomas Dick. 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, “How early I woo'd thee”

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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