Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Hap me wi' thy petticoat

Traditional

“Hap me wi' thy petticoat” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 144 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

"I'll hap ye wi' my petticoat,

My ain kind dow;

I'll hap ye wi' my petticoat,

My ain kind dow.

The wind blaws cauld, my claithing's thin,—

O dearie, on me rue;

And hap me wi' thy petticoat,

My ain kind dow."

Verse 2

O Bell, thy looks ha'e kill'd my heart,

I pass the day in pain;

When night returns, I feel the smart,

And wish for thee in vain.

I'm starving cold, while thou art warm;

Have pity and incline,

And grant me for a hap that charm-

ing petticoat of thine.

My ravish'd fancy in amaze

Still wanders o'er thy charms,

Delusive dreams ten thousand ways

Present thee to my arms.

But waking, think what I endure,

While cruel thou decline

Those pleasures, which alone can cure

This panting breast of mine.

I faint, I fail, and wildly rove,

Because you still deny

The just reward that's due to love,

And let true passion die.

Oh! turn, and let compassion seize

That lovely breast of thine;

Thy petticoat could give me ease,

If thou and it were mine.

Sure heaven has fitted for delight

That beauteous form of thine,

And thou'rt too good its law to slight,

By hind'ring the design.

May all the powers of love agree,

At length to make thee mine;

Or loose my chains and set me free

From every charm of thine.

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, “Hap me wi' thy petticoat”

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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