Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

I'm wandering wide

Traditional

“I'm wandering wide” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 177 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'm wand'ring wide this wintery night,

But yet my heart's at hame,

Fu' cozie by my ain fire-cheek,

Beside my winsome dame.

The weary winds howl lang an' loud,

But, 'mid their howling drear,

Fa' saftly on my ear.

I'm wand'ring wide this wintery night,

I'm wand'ring wide an' far;

But love, to guide me back again,

Lights up a kindly star.

The lift glooms black aboon my head,

Nae friendly blink I see,

But let it gloom,—twa bonnie een

Glance bright to gladden me.

I'm wand'ring wide this wintery night,

I'm wand'ring wide an' late,

And ridgy wreaths afore me rise,

As if to bar my gate.

Around me swirls the sleety drift,

The frost bites dour an' keen.

But breathings warm frae lovin' lips

Come ilka gust atween.

I'm wand'ring wide this wintery night,

I'm wand'ring wide an' wild,

Alang a steep and eerie track

Where hills on hills are piled:

The torrent roars in wrath below,

The tempest roars aboon;

But fancy broods on brighter scenes,

And soughs a cheerin' tune.

I'm wand'ring wide this wintery night,

I'm wand'ring wide my lane,

And mony a langsome, lanesome mile

I'll measure ere it's gane.

But lanesome roads or langsome miles

Can never daunton me,

When I think on the welcome warm

That waits me, love, frae thee.

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'm wandering wide”

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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