Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Glendochart Vale

Traditional

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

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 130 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

As I came through Glendochart vale,

Where mists o'ertap the mountains grey

A wee bit lassie met my view,

As cantily she held her way:

But O sic love each feature bore,

She made my saul wi' rapture glow!

An' aye she spake sae kind and sweet,

I couldna keep my heart in tow.

O speak na o' your courtly queans!

My wee bit lassie fools them a':

The little cuttie's done me skaith,

She's stown my thoughtless heart awa'.

Her smile was like the grey-e'ed morn,

Whan spreading on the mountain green;

Her voice saft as the mavis' sang;

An' sweet the twinkle o' her een:

A boon her brow, sae bonnie brent,

Her raven locks waved o'er her e'e;

An' ilka slee bewitching glance

Conveyed a dart o' love to me.

O speak na o' your courtly queans, &c.

The lasses fair in Scotia's isle,

Their beauties a' what tongue can tell?

But o'er the fairest o' them a'

My wee bit lassie bears the bell.

O had I never mark'd her smile,

Nor seen the twinkle o' her e'e!

It might na been my lot the day,

A waefu' lade o' care to dree.

O speak na o' your courtly queans, &c.

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, “Glendochart Vale”

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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