Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Blythe and cheerie

Traditional

“Blythe and cheerie” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 50 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

On Ettrick clear there grows a brier,

An' monie a bonnie bloomin' shaw;

But Peggy's grown the fairest flower

The braes o' Ettrick ever saw.

Her cheek is like the woodland rose;

Her e'e the violet set wi' dew;

The liy's fair without compare,

Yet in her bosom tines its hue.

Had I her hame at my wee house,

That stands aneath yon mountain high,

To help me wi' the kye an' ewes,

An' in my arms at e'ening lie;

O sae blythe! an' O sae cheery!

O sae happy we wad be!

The lammie to the ewe is dear,

But Peggy's dearer far to me.

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, “Blythe and cheerie”

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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