Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Esabell

Traditional

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

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 103 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, weary fa' that little fairie, our Isabell—

O, plague be on that wllfu' fairie, our Isabell;

For although we like the lassie weel—and that she kens hersel'—

Yet ower the border, right or wrang, will our Isabel.

O, we'll seldom get a sang at e'en, and scarce a tune ava,

Sae we may sit and hing our lugs when she gangs awa';

For little Bessie winna croon, and Johnnie scarcely craw,

They'll be sae dowf and dowie soon when she gangs awa'.

The sky that smiles sae fair at morn, ere night may be o'ercast;

Sae our dearest pleasures fade away, and downa langer last.

And it ser's us nought to sit and fret, whatever may befa'—

But, guidsake, wha wad e'er ha'e thought o' her gaun awa'.

O, we've canker'd folk and canny folk in our house at hame,

And some that scarce dow bide a joke in our house at hame;

And we'd ower the border ane and a', if ever we heard tell

That ony birkie daur'd to gloom at our Isabell.

O, weary fa' that little fairie, our Isabell—

O, plague be on that wilfu' fairie, our Isabell;

For although we like the gipsie mair than ony tongue can tell,

Yet, ower the border, right or wrang, will our Isabell.

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, “Esabell”

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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