Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

My faithful Somebody

Traditional

“My faithful Somebody” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 283 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 day declining gilds the west,

And weary labour welcomes rest,

How lightly bounds his beating breast

At thought of meeting somebody.

My fair, my faithful somebody,

My fair, my faithful somebody,

When sages, with their precepts show,

Perfection is unknown below,

They mean, except in somebody.

Her lovely looks, sae kind and gay,

Are sweeter than the smiles of day,

And milder than the morn of May

That beams on bonnie somebody.

My fair, &c.

'Twas but last eve, when wand'ring here,

We heard the cushat cooing near,

I softly whisper'd in her ear,

"He woos, like me, his somebody."

My fair, &c.

With crimson cheek the fair replied,

"As seasons change, he'll change his bride;

But death alone can e'er divide

From me the heart of somebody."

My fair, &c.

Enrapt I answer'd, "Maid divine,

Thy mind's a model fair for mine;

And here I swear I'll but resign

With life the love of somebody."

My fair, &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, “My faithful Somebody”

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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