Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Deluded Swain

Traditional

“Deluded Swain” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 93 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

Deluded swain, the pleasure

The fickle fair can give thee

Is but a fairy treasure—

Thy hopes will soon deceive thee.

The billows on the ocean,

The breezes idly roaming,

The clouds' uncertain motion,

They are but types of woman.

O! art thou not ashamed

To doat upon a feature?

If man thou wouldst be named,

Despise the silly creature.

Go, find an honest fellow;

Good claret set before thee:

Hold on till thou art mellow,

And then to bed in glory.

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, “Deluded Swain”

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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