Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Bet of Aberdeen

Traditional

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

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 44 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 brightly beams the bonnie moon

Frae out the azure sky,

While ilka little star aboon

Seems sparkling bright wi' joy.

How calm the eve! how blest the hour!

How soft the sylvan scene!

How fit to meet thee, lovely flower!

Sweet Bet of Aberdeen.

Now let us wander through the broom,

And o'er the flowery lea;

While simmer wafts her rich perfume

Frae yonder hawthorn tree,

There on yon mossy bank we'll rest,

Where we've sae aften been,

Clasp'd to each other's throbbing breast,

Sweet Bet of Aberdeen.

How sweet to view that face so meek,

That dark expressive eye;

To kiss that lovely blushing cheek,

Those lips of coral dye;

But oh! to hear thy seraph strains,

Thy maiden sighs between,

Makes rapture thrill through all my vein

Sweet Bet of Aberdeen.

Oh! what to us is wealth or rank?

Or what is pomp or power?

More dear this velvet mossy bank,

This blest ecstatic hour:

I'd covet not the monarch's throne,

Nor diamond-studded queen,

While blest wi' thee, and thee alone,

Sweet Bet of Aberdeen.

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, “Bet of Aberdeen”

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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