Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Cold, cold's the hand

Traditional

“Cold, cold's the hand” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 84 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

Cold, cold's the hand that oft in mine

Hath thrill'd with hope and feeling,

And deadly still the gentle heart

On which the worm is stealing.

The glossy locks are now laid low,—

The cheeks, once warmly bloomin',

Are pale an' cold as winter's snow

Upon a winter's gloamin'.

The silvery notes that in mine ears

Have dropp'd like oil and manna,

Ah! they are mute as shedden tears—

The sacred voice of Anna.

My much lov'd maid is now no more;

We cannot meet by Banna;

Her place is void, and, oh! I'd soar,

To meet in heaven my Anna.

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, “Cold, cold's the hand”

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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