William Cameron: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Jessie o' the Dell

William Cameron

“Jessie o' the Dell” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

William Cameron: 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

Oh! bright the beaming queen o' night

Shines in yon flowery vale,

And softly sheds her silver light

O'er mountain-path and dale.

Short is the way, when light's the heart,

That's bound in love's soft spell;

Sae I'll awa' to Armadale,

To Jessie o' the Dell.

We've pu'ed the primrose on the braes,

Beside my Jessie's cot;

We've gather'd nuts, we've gather'd slaes,

In that sweet rural spot.

The wee short hours danced merrily,

Like lambkins on the fell,

As if they join'd in joy wi' me,

And Jessie o' the Dell.

There's nane to me wi' her can vie,

I'll love her till I dee,

For she's sae sweet, and bonnie, aye,

And kind as kind can be.

This night in mutual kind embrace,

O wha our joys can tell!

Then I'll awa' to Armadale,

To Jessie o' the Dell.

Credits

Written by William Cameron

Words by William Cameron. 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, “Jessie o' the Dell”

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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