Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

My dearie, if thou dee

Traditional

“My dearie, if thou dee” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 282 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

Love never more shall give me pain,

My fancy's fix'd on thee:

Nor ever maid my heart shall gain,

My Peggie, if thou dee.

Thy beauties did such pleasure give,

Thy love's so true to me;

Without thee I shall never live,

My dearie, if thou dee.

If fate shall tear thee from my breast,

How shall I lonely stray!

In dreary dreams the night I'll waste,

In sighs the silent day.

I ne'er can so much virtue find,

Nor such perfection see:

Then I'll renounce all womankind,

My Peggie, after thee.

No new-blown beauty fires my heart,

With Cupid's raving rage;

But thine, which can such sweets impart,

Must all the world engage.

'Twas this that like the morning sun,

Gave joy and life to me;

And, when its destined day is done,

With Peggie let me dee.

Ye powers that smile on virtuous love,

And in such pleasures share,

Ye who its faithful flames approve,

With pity view the fair:

Restore my Peggie's wonted charms,

Those charms so dear to me;

Oh, never rob them from those arms—

I'm lost if Peggie dee.

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, “My dearie, if thou dee”

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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