William Miller: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Cockle-Leerie-La

William Miller

“Cockle-Leerie-La” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

William Miller: 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

There is a country gentleman, who leads a thrifty life,

Ilk morning scrapin' orra things thegither for his wife:

His coat's o' glowin' ruddy brown, and wavilet wi' gold—

A crimson crown upon his head, well-fitting one so bold.

If ithers pick where he did scrape, he brings them to disgrace,

For, like a man of mettle, he siclike meets face to face;

He gi'es the loons a letherin', a crackit croon to claw—

There is nae gaun about the buss wi' Cockie-leerie-la!

His step is firm and evenly, his look both grave and sage—

To bear his rich and stately tail should have a pretty page;

And, though he hauds his head fu' hie, he glinteth to the grun,

Nor fyles his silver spurs in dubs wi' glowrin' at the sun:

And whyles I've thocht had he a haun wharwi' to grip a stickie,

A pair o' specks across his neb, an' roun' his neck a dickie,

That weans wad laugh, an' haud their sides, an' cry—"Preserve us a'.

Ye're some frien' to Doctor Drawblood, douce Cockie-leerie-la!"

So learn frae him to think nae shame to work for what ye need,

For he that gapes till he be fed, may gape till he be dead;

An' if ye live in idleness, ye'll find unto your cost,

That they wha winna work in heat will hunger in the frost.

An' hain wi' care ilk sair-worn plack, and honest pride will fill

Your purse wi' gear—e'en far-aff frien's will bring grist to your mill;

An' if, when grown to be a man, your name's without a flaw,

Then rax your neck, and tune your pipes to—Cockie-leerie-la!

Credits

Written by William Miller

Words by William Miller. 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, “Cockle-Leerie-La”

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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