William Wilson: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Bonny Mary

William Wilson

“Bonny Mary” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

William Wilson: 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

When the sun gaes down, when the sun gaes down,

I'll meet thee, bonnie Mary, when the sun gaes down;

I'll row my apron up, an' I'll leave the reeky town,

And meet thee by the burnie when the sun gaesdown.

By the burnie there's a bower, we will gently lean us there,

An' forget in ithers arms every earthly care,

For the chiefest o' my joys in this weary mortal roun',

Is the burnside wi' Mary when the sun gaes down.

When the sun gaes down, &c.

There the ruin'd castle tower on the distant steep appears

Like a hoary auld warrior faded with years;

An' the burnie, stealin' by wi' a fairy silver soun',

Will soothe us wi' its music when the sun gaes down.

When the sun gaes down, &c.

The burnside is sweet when the dew is on the flower,

But 'tis like a little heaven at the trystin' hour!

An' with pity I would look on the king who wears the crown,

When wi' thee by the burnie, when the sun gaes down.

When the sun gaes down, &c.

When the sun gaes down, when the sun gaes down,

I'll meet thee by the burnie, when the sun gaes down;

Come in thy petticoatic, and thy little drugget gown.

And I'll meet thee, bonnie Mary, when the sun gaes down.

Credits

Written by William Wilson

Words by William Wilson. 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, “Bonny Mary”

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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