Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Lovely Mary

Traditional

“Lovely Mary” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 241 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've seen the lily of the wold;

I've seen the opening marigold,

Their fairest hues at morn unfold;

But fairer is my Mary.

How sweet the fringe of mountain burn,

With op'ning flowers at spring's return!

How sweet the scent of flowery thorn!

But sweeter is my Mary.

Her heart is gentle, warm, and kind;

Her form's not fairer than her mind;

Two sister beauties rarely join'd,

But join'd in lovely Mary.

As music from the distant steep,

As starlight on the silent deep,

So are my passions lull'd asleep

By love for bonnie Mary.

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, “Lovely Mary”

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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