unknown author: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Lassie, would ye lo'e me

unknown author

“Lassie, would ye lo'e me” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

unknown author: Collected Lyrics Text 13 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

Oh, gin I were a baron's heir,

And could I braid wi' gems your hair,

And make ye braw as ye are fair,

Lassie, would ye lo'e me?

And could I tak' ye to the town,

And shaw ye braw sights mony a ane,

And busk ye fine in silken gown,

Lassie, would ye lo'e me?

Or should ye be content to prove,

In lowly life unfading love,

A heart that nought on earth could move,

Lassie, would ye lo'e me?

And ere the lav'rock wing the skie,

Say, wad ye to the forest hie,

And work wi' me sae merrilie,

Lassie, could ye lo'e me?

And when the braw moon glistens o'er,

Our wee bit bield and heathery muir,

Will ye na greet for ye're sae puir,

Lassie, though I lo'e ye?

For I ha'e nought to offer ye,

Nae gowd frae mine, nae pearl frae sea,

Nor am I come o' hie degree,

Lassie, but I lo'e ye.

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, “Lassie, would ye lo'e me”

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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