Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Love inviting Reason

Traditional

“Love inviting Reason” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 240 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

When innocent pastime our pleasures did crown,

Upon a green meadow, or under a tree,

Ere Annie became a fine lady in town,

How lovely, and loving, and bonnie was she!

House up thy reason, my beautiful Annie,

Let ne'er a new whim ding thy fancy ajee;

Oh! as thou art bonnie, be faithfu' and cannie,

And favour thy Jamie wha doats upon thee.

Does the death of a lintwhite give Annie the spleen?

Can tyning of trifles be uneasy to thee?

Can lap-dogs and monkeys draw tears frae these een,

That look with indifference on poor dying me?

Rouse up thy reason, my beautiful Annie,

And dinna prefer a paroquet to me;

Oh! as thou art bonnie, be prudent and cannie,

And think on thy Jamie wha doats upon thee.

Ah! should a pew manteau or Flanders lace head,

Or yet a wee coatie, though never so fine,

Gar thee grow forgetfu', and let his heart bleed,

That ance had some hope of purchasing thine?

Rouse up thy reason, my beautiful Annie,

And dinna prefer your flageeries to me;

Oh! as thou art bonnie, be solid and cannie,

And tent a true lover that doats upon thee.

Shall a Paris edition of newfangled Sawney,

Though gilt o'er wi' laces and fringes he be,

By adoring himself, be adored by fair Annie,

And aim at those benisons promised to me?

Rouse up thy reason, my beautiful Annie,

And never prefer a light dancer to me,

Oh! as thou art bonnie, be prudent and cannie;

Love only thy Jamie wha doats upon thee.

Oh! think, my dear charmer, on ilka sweet hour,

That slade away saftly between thee and me,

Ere squirrels, or beaux, or foppery, had power

To rival my love and impose upon thee.

Rouse up thy reason, my beautiful Annie,

And let thy desires a' be centred in me;

Oh! as thou art bonnie, be faithfu' and cannie,

And love ane wha lang has been loving to 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, “Love inviting Reason”

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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