Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Campsie Glen

Traditional

“Campsie Glen” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 74 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

Let us owre to Campsie Glen, bonnie lassie, O,

By the dingle that you ken, bonnie lassie, O,

To the tree where first we woo'd,

And cut our names so rude,

Deep in the sauch-tree's wood, bonnie lassie, O.

O'er the willow brig we'll wend, bonnie lassie, O,

And the ladders we'U ascend, bonnie Lissie, O,

Where the woodroof loves to hide

Its scented leaves, beside

The streamlets, as they glide, bonnie lassie, O.

Where the blue bell on the brae, bonnie lassie, O,

Where the sweetest scented slae, bonnie lassie, O,

And the flow'rets ever new,

Of nature's painting true,

All fragrant bloom for you, bonnie lassie, O.

Where the music of the wood, bonnie Lissie, O,

And the dashing of the flood, bonnie lassie, O,

O'er the rock and ravine mingle,

And glen and mountain dingle,

With the merry echoes tingle, bonnie lassie, O.

On the moss-seat we'll recline, bonnie lassie, O,

Wi' a hand in each of thine, bonnie lassie, O;

The bosom's warmest thrill

Beats truer, safter still,

As our hearts now glowing fill, bonnie lassie, O.

Then before bright heaven's eye, bonnie lassie, O,

We will double love-knots tie, bonnie lassie, O;

Then true affection plighted.

We'll love and live united,

With hearts and hands united, bonnie lassie, 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, “Campsie Glen”

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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