Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Farewell, ye Streams

Traditional

“Farewell, ye Streams” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 112 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

Farewell, ye streams, sae dear to me,

My bonnie Cluden, Nith, an' Dee;

Ye burns that row sae bonnilie,

Your siller waves nae mair I'll see.

Yet tho' frae your green banks I'm driven,

My saul away could ne'er be riven;

For still she lifts her een to heaven,

An' sighs to be again with thee.

Ye canty bards ayont the Tweed,

Your skins wi' claes o' tartan cleed,

An' lilt alang the verdant mead,

Or blythly on your whistles blaw;

An' sing auld Scotia's barns an' ha's;

Her bourtree dykes an' mossy wa's;

Her faulds, her bughts, an' birken shaws,

Whar love an' freedom sweetens a'.

Sing o' her carles, teuch an' auld;

Her carlines grim, that flyte an' scauld;

Her wabsters blythe, an' souters bauld;

Her flock an' herds sae fair to see.

Sing o' her mountains, bleak an' high;

Her fords, whar neighrin' kelpies ply;

Her glens, the haunts o' rural joy;

Her lasses lilting o'er the lea.

To you the darling theme belangs,

That frae my heart exulting spangs;

O mind, amang your bonnie sangs,

The lads that bled for liberty.

Think on our auld forbears o' yore,

Wha dy'd the muirs wi' hostile gore;

Wha slavery's bands indignant tore,

An' bravely fell for you an' me.

My gallant brithers, brave an' bauld,

Wha haud the pleugh, or wake the fauld,

Until your dearest bluid rin cauld,

Aye true unto your country be.

Wi' daring look her durk she drew,

An' coost a mither's e'e on you;

Then letna onie spulzien crew

Her dear-bought freedom wrest frae thee.

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, “Farewell, ye Streams”

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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