Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Blythe ha'e I been

Traditional

“Blythe ha'e I been” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 51 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

Blythe ha'e I been on yon hill,

As the lambs before me;

Careless ilka thought and free,

As the breeze flew o'er me:

Now nae longer sport and play

Mirth or sang can please me,

Lesley is sae fair and coy.

Care and anguish seize me.

Heavy, heavy, is the task,

Hopeless love declaring:

Trembling, I dow nocht but glow'r,

Sighing, dimnb, despairing!

If she winna ease the thraws.

In my bosom swelling;

Underneath the grass-green sod,

Soon maun be my dwelling.

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 ha'e I been”

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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