Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Benlomond

Traditional

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

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 42 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

Some may delight to spend their hours,

By limpid streamlets fring'd with flowers,

But give to me the wilds where towers

Thy rocky crest, Benlomond.

Through leafy groves young love may stray,

To sing the joys of rosy May,

But bolder tones must fire his lay

Whose theme's the proud Benlomond.

Dark clouds upon thy forehead rest,

Bed lightnings play around thy crest,

And storm runs riot on thy breast,

Thou heed'st them not, Benlomond.

But when gay summer's in her prime,

And balmy winds steal o'er our clime,

Who would not dare thy heights sublime

And glory in Benlomond.

There far above proud cities we

With wonder fill'd will lean on thee,

Awed by the gorgeous scenery

That round thee spreads, Benlomond.

Sublimity sits throned on thee,

Veil'd in the vast profoundity

That stills, or wakes the inland sea

That bathes thy feet, Benlomond.

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, “Benlomond”

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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