Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Henry

Traditional

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

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 150 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

Can my dearest Henry leave me?

Why, ah! why would he deceive me?

Whence this cold and cruel change,

That bids him thus forsake and grieve me?

Can he the hours of love forget,

The stolen hours I'll mind for ever,

When doun the burn we fondly met,

And aften vow'd we ne'er should sever?

Will my Henry then deceive me?

Faithless laddie! can he leave me?

Ne'er till now did fancy dream,

My dearest laddie sae would grieve me.

And will he then me aye forsake?

Must I for ever, ever lose him?

And can he leave this heart to break,

That swells and bursts within my bosom?

Never, Henry, could I leave thee,

Never could this heart deceive thee;

Why then, laddie, me forsake,

And sae wi' cruel absence grieve me?

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, “Henry”

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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