Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Her bonnie black e'e 2

Traditional

“Her bonnie black e'e 2” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 152 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

Sweet was her look when she smiling sat by my side,

Sweet was her song on the green banks of flowing Clyde;

Sweet was her blush when she promised to be my bride,

Sweeter the blink o' her bonnie black e'e.

Kiss'd I her rosy lips, o'er aye an' o'er again,

Press'd I her to my breast more aye an' more again;

But when her form frae my bosom she tore again,

I sigh'd for the blink o' her bonnie black e'e.

Bein though my biggin' be, what joy is it a' to me,

Hale though my haddin', nae pleasure is 't ava to me,

Plenty seems painfu', when she is awa' frae me;

I sigh for the sight o' her bonnie black e'e.

Oh! cruel fate, wilt thou never mair ease my care,

Henry was faithfu', and Jeannie was fause and fair,

Death, come and ease my pain, ne'er can I see her mair,

Farewell the slight o' her bonnie black e'e.

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, “Her bonnie black e'e 2”

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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