Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Beechen Tree

Traditional

“Beechen Tree” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 41 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

Beechen tree, ye was green, green,

Warm winds blawin' your branches atween,

When 'neath your shade,

A simple maid!

I met wi' my fause love late at e'en.

Beechen tree, his vows ye heard,

Breathed saft in mony a sweet-waled word:

Wha e'er could reck

Sic vows would break?

Nae dreams o' a snare has the younglin' bird.

Beechen tree, ye are bare, bare;

Warm shelter now ye ha'e nane to spare—

As 'neath your shade,

Nae mair a maid,

I cower me down i' the cauld night air.

Beechen tree, the comin' spring

Will green leaves back to your branches bring:

But spring, alas!

May come an' pass,

But canna renew my flourishing.

Beechen tree, bare beechen tree,

The warld is fu' o' treacherie!

And I maist could pray

That, ere the day,

Alane at your auld root I might dee!

Credits

Written by Traditional

Traditional words. 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, “Beechen Tree”

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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