Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Forget na', dear Lassie

Traditional

“Forget na', dear Lassie” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 118 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

Forget na', dear lassie, when I'm far frae thee,

Forget na' the tear that may steal frae my ee;

Oh think on the time we sae happy ha'e been;

Oh think on the wandering beneath the moon's beam.

I will think on the tear thou wilt shed when alone,

And fondly remember each dear woodland scene,

I'll bless the sweet smile, that still woo'd me to thee,

And hope, sweetly smiling, will gladden my ee.

I see the rose fading, dear maid, on thy cheek,

I feel the heart throbbings, thy anguish that speak;

But let the tear-drop nor sorrow be thine,

Peace rest in thy bosom, and sorrow be mine.

When 'midst the rude storm on the wide-swelling sea,

Fond fancy will turn to this hour, love, wi' thee,

I'll sigh to the billows to waft me ashore,

To part frae my hame and my lassie no more.

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, “Forget na', dear 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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