Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Mary, O

Traditional

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

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 254 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

Trilling Harp, come let us sing,

Come let me brace ilk gowden string,

And warble owre some bonnie spring,

In praise o' my sweet Mary, O.

The lay along let sweetly move,

Freely let the love-notes rove,

Peerless, yea, resound my love,

My blythe, my bonnie Mary, O.

For O she's handsome, sweet, and fair,

Blooming, sprightly, mild, and rare;

Ne'er shall maid wi' her compare,

My blythe, my darling Mary, O.

Though Burns divine, in rapture keen,

Sang sweetly o' his "Bonnie Jean,"

She scarcely e'er in shape or mien,

Could match my bonnie Mary, O.

Though Tannahill in numbers fain,

Extoll'd his "Jessie o' Dumblane,"

And though her praises charm ilk swain,

Excell'd she's now by Mary, O.

O had thae twa sweet bards but seen

This blooming maid o' bonnie mien,

They'd tuned her heavenly lyres I ween,

And peerless made my Mary, O.

Ye powers aboon, guard frae harms

The maid whase smile my bosom warms,

And lang endow'd wi' rowth o' charms,

Let bloom my bonnie Mary, O.

O guide her through this dreary vale

O' sorrow, trouble, woe, and wail,

And heaven-ward when she soars, entail

Eternal bliss on Mary, O.

For she's handsome, sweet, and fair,

Blooming, sprightly, mild, and rare;

Ne'er shall maid wi' her compare,

My blythe, my darling Mary, O.

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, “Mary, O”

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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