Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Here's to the king, sir

Traditional

“Here's to the king, sir” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 153 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

Here's to the king, sir!

Ye ken wha I mean, sir;

And to every honest man,

That will do't again.

Fill, fill your bumpers high;

Drain drain your glasses dry;

Out upon him, fy! oh ly!

That winna do't again.

Here's to the chieftains

Of the gallant Highland clans!

They ha'e done it mair nor ance,

And will do't again.

Fill, fill, &c.

When you hear the trumpet sound

Tuttie taitie, to the drums;

Up wi' swords and down your guns,

An' to the loons again.

Fill, fill, &c.

Here's to the king o' Swede!

Fresh laurels crown his head!

Shame fa' every sneaking blade,

That winna do't again!

Fill, fill, &c.

But to mak' a things right, now,

He that drinks maun fight, too,

To show his heart's upright, too,

And that he'll do't again!

Fill, fill, &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, “Here's to the king, sir”

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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