Walter Scott: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Blue bonnets over the border

Walter Scott

“Blue bonnets over the border” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Walter Scott: 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

March, march, Ettrick and Teviotdale,

Why, my lads, dinna ye march forward in order?

March, march, Eskdale and Liddesdale,

All the blue bonnets are over the border.

Many a banner spread, flutters above your head,

Many a crest that is famous in story,

Mount and make ready then, sons of the mountain glen,

Fight for your Queen and the old Scottish glory.

Come from the hills where your hirsels are grazing,

Come from the glen of the buck and the roe:

Come to the crag where the beacon is blazing;

Come with the buckler, the lance, and the bow.

Trumpets are sounding, war-steeds are bounding;

Stand to your arms, and march in good order;

England shall many a day tell of the bloody fray,

When the blue bonnets came over the border.

Credits

Written by Walter Scott

Words by Walter Scott. 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, “Blue bonnets over the border”

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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