Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Bonnie Mary Græme

Traditional

“Bonnie Mary Græme” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 59 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

Oh! whar ha'e ye been roamin'—whar ha'e ye been roamin'—

Whar ha'e ye been roamin', bonnie Mary Græme

Whar ha'e ye been roamin' this cauld dowie gloamin'—

Whar ha'e ye been roamin', sae far awa' frae hame?

The tear is in your e'e—was't the pearly dew that sent it?—

It used na' sae to be, bonnie Mary Græme!

There's a glow on your cheek—was't the damask rose that lent it?—

O, what gars ye greet, or what gars ye think shame?

There's care upon your brow—ill fa' the hand that wrought it!

There's sorrow in your bosom, bonnie Mary Græme!

Sae blythsome as ye used to be, O, wha cou'd e'er ha'e thocht it!—

Somebody or ither has been sair—sair to blame!

Your step, that was sae lichtsome, gangs creepin' slow and eerie,

An' sair your voice is alter'd, bonnie Mary Græme!

A canker's in the bud that micht ha'e bloomed sae cheery,

Gin he had kept his faith to thee, bonnie Mary Græme!

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, “Bonnie Mary Græme”

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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