Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

I ha'e nae kith

Traditional

“I ha'e nae kith” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 181 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

I ha'e nae kith, I ha'e nae kin,

Nor ane that's dear to me;

For the bonnie lad that I lo'e best,

He's far ayont the sea.

He's gane wi' ane that was our ain,

And we may rue the day,

When our king's ae daughter came here

To play sic foul play.

O gin I were a bonnie bird,

Wi' wings that I might flee,

Then would I travel o'er the main,

My ae true love to see.

Then I wad tell a joyfu' tale,

To ane that's dear to me,

And sit upon a king's window

And sing my melody.

The adder lies i' the corbie's nest,

Aneath the corbie's wing,

And the blast that reaves the corbie's brood,

Will soon blaw hame our king.

Then blaw ye east, or blaw ye west,

Or blaw ye o'er the faem,

O bring the lad that I lo'e best,

And ane I darena name.

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, “I ha'e nae kith”

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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