Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Hey, Jenny

Traditional

“Hey, Jenny” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 156 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

Jockie he came here to woo,

Wi' tartan plaid, and bonnet blue,

And Jenny pat on her best array,

When she heard that Jocky had come that way.

Jenny she gaed up the stair;

For Jenny was blate afore unco folk;

And aye sae loud as her mither did rare,

"Hey, Jenny, come down to Jock."

Jenny she came down the stair,

And she cam' bobbin' and beckin' ben;

Her stays they were laced, and her wast it was jimp,

And a braw new-made manco gown.

Jockie took her by the hand

"O, Jenny! can ye fancy me?

My father's dead, and has left me some land,

And braw houses twa or three—

And I will gi'e them a' to thee."

"A haith!" quo' Jenny, "I fear you mock."

"Then, foul fa' me, gin I scorn thee;

If ye'll be my Jenny, I'll be your Jock."

Jenny she gaed up the gate,

Wi' a green gown as side as her smock;

And aye sae loud as her mither did rair

"Vow, sirs! hasna Jenny got Jock!"

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, “Hey, Jenny”

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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