Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Low down i' the Brume

Traditional

“Low down i' the Brume” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 243 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

My daddie is a cankert carle,

He'll no twine wi' his gear;

My minnie she's a scauldin' wife,

Hauds a' the house asteer.

But let them say, or let them do,

It's a' ane to me,

For he's low doun, he's in the brume,

That's waitin' on me:

Waiting on me, my love,

He's waiting on me:

For he's low doun, he's in the brume,

That's waitin' on me.

My auntie Kate sits at her wheel,

And sair she lightlies me;

But weel ken I it's a' envy,

For ne'er a joe has she.

But let them say, &c.

My cousin Kate was sair beguiled

Wi' Johnnie o' the Glen;

And aye sinsyne she cries, Beware

O' fause deluding men.

But let them say, &c.

Gleed Sandy he cam' wast yestreen,

And speir'd when I saw Pate;

And aye sinsyne the neebors round

They jeer me air and late.

But let them say, &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, “Low down i' the Brume”

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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