Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

John, come kiss me now

Traditional

“John, come kiss me now” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 208 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

Johne, cum kiss me now,

Johne, cum kiss me now;

Johne, cum kiss me by and by,

And make no more adow.

The Lord thy God I am,

That John dois thee call;

Johne represents man

By grace celestiall, &c.

Verse 2

John, come kiss me now, now, now,

O John come kiss me now,

John come kiss me by and by,

And make nae mair ado.

Some will court and compliment,

And make a great ado,

Some will make of their goodman,

And sae will I of you.

John, come kiss, &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, “John, come kiss me now”

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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