Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Dinna think, bonnie lassie

Traditional

“Dinna think, bonnie lassie” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 94 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

O dinna think, bonnie lassie, I'm gaun to leave thee;

Dinna think, bonnie lassie, I'm gaun to leave thee;

Dinna think, bonnie lassie, I'm gaun to leave thee;

I'll tak' a stick into my hand, and come again and see thee.

Far's the gate ye ha'e to gang; dark's the night and eerie;

Far's the gate ye ha'e to gang; dark's the night and eerie;

Far's the gate ye ha'e to gang; dark's the night and eerie;

O stay this night wi' your love, and dinna gang and leave me.

It's but a night and hauf a day that I'll leave my dearie;

But a night and hauf a day that I'll leave my dearie;

But a night and hauf a day that I'll leave my dearie;

Whene'er the sun gaes west the loch, I'll come again and see thee.

Dinna gang, my bonnie lad, dinna gang and leave me;

Dinna gang, my bonnie lad, dinna gang and leave me;

When a' the lave are sound asleep, I am dull and eerie;

And a' the lee-lang night I'm sad, wi' thinking on my dearie.

O dinna think, bonnie lassie, I'm gaun to leave thee;

Dinna think, bonnie lassie, I'm gaun to leave thee;

Dinna think, bonnie lassie, I'm gaun to leave thee;

Whene'er the sun gaes out o' sight, I'll come again and see thee.

Waves are rising o'er the sea; winds blaw loud and fear me;

Waves are rising o'er the sea; winds blaw loud and fear me;

While the winds and waves do roar, I am wae and drearie,

And gin ye lo'e me as ye say, ye winna gang and leave me.

O never mair, bonnie lassie, will I gang and leave thee;

Never mair, bonnie lassie, will I gang and leave thee;

Never mair, bonnie lassie, will I gang and leave thee;

E'en let the world gang as it will, I'll stay at hame and cheer thee.

Frae his hand he coost his stick; I winna gang and leave thee;

Threw his plaid into the neuk; never can I grieve thee;

Drew his boots, and flang them by; cried, My lass, be cheerie;

I'll kiss the tear frae aff thy cheek, and never leave my dearie.

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, “Dinna think, bonnie lassie”

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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