Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Bonnie Prince Charlie

Traditional

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

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 63 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

Cam' ye by Athol, lad wi' the philabeg,

Down by the Tummel, or banks of the Gary?

Saw ye our lads, wi' their bonnets an' while cockades,

Leaving their mountains to follow Prince Charlie?

Follow thee, follow thee, wha wadna follow thee?

Lang hast thou loved and trusted us fairly!

Charlie, Charlie, wha wadna follow thee?

King of the Highland hearts, bonnie Prince Charlie.

I ha'e but ae son, my brave young Donald;

But if I had ten they should follow Glengarry;

Health to M'Donald and gallant Clan-Ronald,

For these are the men that will die for their Charlie.

Follow thee, follow thee, &c.

I'll to Lochiel and Appin, and kneel to them;

Down by Lord Murray and Koy of Kildarlie;

Brave Mackintosh he shall fly to the field wi' them;

They are the lads I can trust wi' my Charlie.

Follow thee, follow thee, &c.

Down through the Lowlands, down wi' the whigamore,

Loyal true Highlanders, down with them rarely;

Ronald and Donald drive on wi' the braid claymore,

Over the necks of the foes of Prince Charlie.

Follow thee, follow thee, &c.

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 Prince Charlie”

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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