unknown author: Collected Lyrics
03 / 18
Public-domain lyrics

Colin Clout

unknown author

“Colin Clout” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

unknown author: Collected Lyrics Text 3 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

Chanticleer, wi' noisy whistle,

Bids the housewife rise in haste:

Colin Clout begins to hirsle,

Slawly frae his sleepless nest,

Love that raises sic a clamour,

Drivin' lads and lasses mad;

Waes my heart! had coost his glamour,

O'er poor Colin, luckless lad.

Cruel Jenny, lack a daisy!

Lang had gart him greet and grane,

Colin's pate was hafflins crazy,

Jenny laugh'd at Colin's pain.

Slawly, up his duds he gathers,

Slawly, slawly trudges out,

An' frae the fauld he drives his wedders,

Happier far than Colin Clout.

Now the sun, rais'd frae his nappie,

Set the orient in a lowe,

Drinkin' ilka glancin' drappie,

I' the field, an' i' the knowe.

Mony a birdie, sweetly singin',

Flaffer'd briskly round about;

An' monie a daintie flowerie springin',

A' were blythe but Colin Clout.

What is this? cries Colin glow'rin',

Glaiked like, a' round about,

Jenny! this is past endurin':

Death maun ease poor Colin Clout.

A' the night I toss and tumble,

Never can I close an e'e,

A' the day I grane an' grumble,

Jenny, this is a' for thee.

Ye'll ha'e nane but farmer Patie,

'Cause the fallow 's rich, I trow,

Aiblins though he shouldna cheat ye,

Jenny, ye'll ha'e cause to rue.

Auld, and gley'd, and crooked backed,—

Siller bought at sic a price,—

Ah, Jenny! gin ye lout to tak' it,

Folk will say ye're no o'er nice.

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, “Colin Clout”

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.
Keep tracing

More from unknown author: Collected Lyrics.

01Bide ye yetPublic-domain lyrics02Clout the CaldronPublic-domain lyrics04Corn RigsPublic-domain lyrics05Fee him, FatherPublic-domain lyrics