Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

'Twas na her bonnie blue e'e

Traditional

“'Twas na her bonnie blue e'e” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 4 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

'Twas na her bonnie blue e'e was my ruin;

Fair though she be, that was ne'er my undoin'

'Twas the dear smile when naebody did mind us,

'Twas the bewitching, sweet, stown glance o' t kindness.

Sair do I fear that to hope is denied me,

Sair do I fear that despair maun abide me;

But though fell fortune should fate us to sever,

Queen shall she be in my bosom for ever.

Mary, I'm thine wi' a passion sincerest,

And thou hast plighted me love o' the dearest!

And thou'rt the angel that never can alter,

Sooner the sun in his motion shall follow.

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, “'Twas na her bonnie blue e'e”

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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