Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Jamie o' the Glen

Traditional

“Jamie o' the Glen” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 196 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

Auld Rob, the laird o' muckle land,

To woo me was na very blate,

But spite o' a' his gear he fand

He came to woo a day owre late.

A lad sae blythe, sae fu' o' glee,

My heart did never ken,

And nane can gi'e sic joy to me

As Jamie o' the glen.

My minnie grat like daft, and rair'd,

To gar me wi' her will comply,

But still I wadna ha'e the laird,

Wi' a' his ousen, sheep, and kye.

A lad sae blythe, &c.

Ah, what are silks and satins braw?

What's a' his warldly gear to me?

They're daft that cast themsel's awa',

Where nae content or love can be.

A lad sae blythe, &c.

I cou'dna bide the silly clash

Came hourly frae the gawky laird!

And sae, to stop his gab and fash,

Wi' Jamie to the kirk repair'd.

A lad sae blythe, &c.

Now ilka summer's day sae lang,

And winter's clad wi' frost and snaw,

A tunefu' lilt and bonnie sang

Aye keep dull care and strife awa'.

A lad sae blythe, &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 o' the Glen”

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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