unknown author: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Bide ye yet

unknown author

“Bide ye yet” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

unknown author: Collected Lyrics Text 1 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

Gin I had a wee house, an' a canty wee fire,

An' a bonnie wee wifie to praise and admire,

Wi' a bonnie wee yardie aside a wee burn,

Fareweel to the bodies that yaumer and mourn.

Sae bide ye yet, an' bide ye yet;

Ye little ken what's to betide ye yet;

Some bonnie wee body may fa' to my lot,

An' I'll aye be canty wi' thinkin' o't.

When I gang a-field, an' come hame at e'en,

I'll get my wee wifie fu' neat an' fu' clean,

Wi' a bonnie wee bairnie upon her knee,

That'll cry papa or daddy to me.

Sae bide ye yet, &c.

An' if there should ever happen to be

A difference atween my wee wifie and me,

In hearty good humour, altho' she be teased,

I'll kiss her an' clap her until she be pleased.

Sae bide ye yet, &c.

Credits

Written by unknown author

Words by unknown author. 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, “Bide ye yet”

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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