Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Janet Macbean

Traditional

“Janet Macbean” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 199 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

Janet Macbean a public keeps,

An' a merry auld wife is she;

An' she sells her yill wi' a jaunty air

That wad please your heart to see.

Her drink's o' the best—she's hearty aye,

An' her house is neat an' clean—

There's no an auld wife in the public line

Can match wi' Janet Macbean.

She has aye a curtsey for the laird

When he comes to drink his can,

An' a laugh for the farmer an' his wife,

An' a joke for the farmer's man.

She toddles but an' she toddles ben,

Like onie wee bit queen—

There's no an auld wife in the public line

Can match wi' Janet Macbean.

The beggar wives gang a' to her,

An' she sairs them wi' bread an' cheese,—

Her bread in bannocks an' cheese in whangs

Wi' a blythe gudewill she gi'es.

Vow, the kintra-side will miss her sair

When she's Laid aneath the green—

There's no an auld wife in the public line

Can match wi' Janet Macbean.

Amang alehouse wives she rules the roast;

For upo' the Sabbath days

She puts on her weel hain'd tartan plaid

An' the rest o' her Sabbath claes,

An' she sits, nae less! in the minister's seat:

Ilk psalm she lilts, I ween—

There's no an auld wife in the public line

Can match wi' Janet Macbean.

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, “Janet Macbean”

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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