Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Bonnie Peggy

Traditional

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

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 62 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

O, we aft ha'e met at e'en, bonnie Peggy, O,

On the banks of Cart sae green, bonnie Peggy, O,

Where the waters smoothly rin,

Far aneath the roaring lin,

Far frae busy strife and din, bonnie Peggy, O.

When the lately crimson west, bonnie Peggy, O,

In her darker robe was drest, bonnie Peggy, O,

And a sky of azure blue,

Deck'd with stars of golden hue,

Rose majestic to the view, bonnie Peggy, O.

When the sound of flute or horn, bonnie Peggy, O,

On the gale of evening borne, bonnie Peggy, O,

We have heard in echoes die,

While the wave that rippl'd by,

Sung a soft and sweet reply, bonnie Peggy, O.

Then how happy would we rove, bonnie Peggy, O,

Whilst thou blushing own'd thy love, bonnie Peggy, O,

Whilst thy quickly throbbing breast

To my beating heart I press'd,

Ne'er was mortal half so blest, bonnie Peggy, O.

Now, alas! these scenes are o'er, bonnie Peggy, O;

Now, alas! we meet no more, bonnie Peggy, O,

Oh! ne'er again, I ween,

Will we meet at summer e'en,

On the banks of Cart sae green, bonnie Peggy, O.

Yet hadst thou been true to me, bonnie Peggy, O,

As I still ha'e been to thee, bonnie Peggy, O,

Then with bosom, O how light,

Had I hail'd the coming night,

And yon evening star so bright, bonnie Peggy, O.

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 Peggy”

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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