William Miller: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Gree, bairnies, gree

William Miller

“Gree, bairnies, gree” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

William Miller: Collected Lyrics Text 2 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

The moon has row'd her in a cloud,

Stravagin' wuns begin

To shoggle and shake the window brods,

Like loons that wad be in.

Gae whistle a tune in the lum-head,

Or craik in saughen tree;

We're thankfu' for a cozie hame,

Sae gree, bairnies, gree.

Though gurlin' wuns may blaely blaw;

Our roustn' fire will thow

The straggler's taes,—and keep fu' cosh

My tousie taps-o'-tow.

O, wha wad cule your kale, my bairns,

Or bake your bread like me,

Ye'd get the bit frae out my mouth,

Sae gree, bairnies, gree.

Verse 2

O, never fling the warmsome boon

O' bairnhood's love awa';

Mind how ye sleepit cheek to cheek,

Atween me and the wa',

How ae kind arm was owre ye baith—

But, if ye disagree,

Think on the kindly sowth'rin' soun',

O, gree, bairnies, gree.

Credits

Written by William Miller

Words by William Miller (died 1872). 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, “Gree, bairnies, gree”

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). The credited author died in 1872.

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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