Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Calder braes

Traditional

“Calder braes” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 70 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

Bright be the bloom of Calder braes,

There, lightsome, glide the sunny days,

And there, by night, the moon's pale rays

Keep aff black darkness dreary.

There let the rosy-bosom'd Spring

Her choicest sweets together bring,

While round her, wild, on wanton wing,

Her children flutter cheery.

There balmy, let the summer breeze,

Sough saft amang the birken trees,

Where stretch'd, the shepherd's pipe at ease,

Unken'd to care sae bleary.

And there, from Plenty's flowing horn,

Let yellow Autumn pour her corn,

That hinds the coming wintry morn

May see, nor tremble eerie.

For there young fancy's beamy rays

Shone bright upon my infant days,

Ere yet I dream'd life's thorny ways

Had been sae waefu' weary.

Companions of my artless glee!

Sweet laughing imps! now where are ye?

Wish'd manhood's come—but ah! like me,

Ye sigh life's paths are briery.

No longer playful in the stream,

Ye, paidling, con the flowery theme,

Nor wild flowers string, and fondly dream

Your days shall rise thus clear aye:

No; far behind yon rising wave,

The storms of life, ye, wandering, brave,

Save one or two, who here a grave

Found ere their feet were weary.

Departed friends! upon your tomb,

Be still the wild flowers seen to bloom,

There evening breathe her sweet perfume,

And shed the silent tear aye.

With you, this wildly throbbing breast,

Deep worn with care, with sorrow prest,

Would glad in silence sink to rest,

From strife and toil sae weary.

But in my heart, with life's warm tide,

Thou, Calder, still shalt dimpling glide,

And there thy braes in flowery pride

Shall rise for ever cheery.

And still my ardent wish shall be,

That plenty, love, and social glee,

In concert sweet, may keep with thee,

A refuge for the weary.

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, “Calder braes”

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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