Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Jamie frae Dundee

Traditional

“Jamie frae Dundee” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 195 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 canna like you, gentle sir,

Although a laird you be,

For weel I like the bonnie lad

Wha brought me frae Dundee.

And I'll gang awa' wi' Jamie, O,

I'll gang awa" wi' Jamie, O,

I'll gang awa' wi' Jamie

O'er the lea;

I'll gang awa' wi' a free gude will,

For he's a' the warld lo me.

I'll gang wi' Jamie frae Dundee,

To cheer the lanesome way;

His cheeks are ruddy o'er wi' health,

He's frolicsome and gay.

And I'll gang, &c.

The laverock mounts to hail the morn,

The lintwhite swells her throat,

But nane o' them's sae sweet or clear

As Jamie's tunefu' note.

And I'll gang, &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, “Jamie frae Dundee”

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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