Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

My Nannie's awa'

Traditional

“My Nannie's awa'” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 273 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

Now in her green mantle blythe nature arrays,

And listens the lambkins that bleat ower the braes,

While birds warble welcome in ilka green shaw;

But to me it's delightless—my Nannie's awa'.

The snaw-drap and primrose our woodlands adorn,

And violets bathe in the weet o' the morn;

They pain my sad bosom, sae sweetly they blaw!

They mind me o' Nannie—and Nannie's awa'.

Thou laverock, that springs frae the dews of the lawn,

The shepherd to warn of the grey-breaking dawn,

And thou mellow mavis, that hails the night-fa';

Give over for pity—my Nannie's awa'.

Come, autumn, sae pensive, in yellow and grey.

And soothe me wi' tidings o' nature's decay:

The dark, dreary winter, and wild-driving snaw,

Alane can delight me—my Nannie's awa'.

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 Nannie's awa'”

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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