Traditional: Collected Lyrics
69 / 291
Public-domain lyrics

Cadogan's Lament

Traditional

“Cadogan's Lament” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 69 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

At the sunset of glory the ev'ning is calm,

No wild howling tempest can rave,

The winds are all hush'd, and the dew-drops are balm,

As they rest on the cheek of the brave.

At the war flash of battle, how gleams the red cheek,

As it brightens while freedom is nigh;

And the eye, as it closes, will high glory speak,

While Victory heaves the last sigh.

How nobly he smiles from the field of his fame,

With the death-mark engraved on his breast,

With a feeble huzza, he joins the acclaim,

And expires on the bed of his rest.

Cadogan! with glory thou'lt ever be named,

And the heroes of Greece and of Rome,

Will bend from their bright clouds, (those warriors famed,)

And exultingly rest on thy tomb.

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, “Cadogan's Lament”

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.
Keep tracing

More from Traditional: Collected Lyrics.

01A good old SongPublic-domain lyrics02I canna be fashedPublic-domain lyrics03It's weel it's nae waurPublic-domain lyrics04'Twas na her bonnie blue e'ePublic-domain lyrics