Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

How blythely the pipe

Traditional

“How blythely the pipe” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 165 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

How blythely the pipe through Glenlyon was sounding,

At morn when the clans to the merry dance hied;

And gay were the love-knots, o'er hearts fondly bonnding,

When Ronald woo'd Flora, and made her his bride.

But war's banner streaming, soon chang'd their fond dreaming,—

The battle cry echoed around and above;

Broad claymores were glancing, and war-steeds were prancing;

Up, Ronald! to arms for home and your love.

All was hush'd o'er the hill, where love linger'd despairing,

With her bride-maids still deek'd in their gay festal gear!

And she wept as she saw them fresh garlands preparing,

Which might laurel Love's brow, or be strew'd o'er his bier!

But, cheer thee, fond maiden—each wild breeze is laden

With victory's slogan, through mountain and grove;

Where death streams were gushing, and war-steeds were rushing,

Lord Ronald has conquer'd for home and for love!

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, “How blythely the pipe”

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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