A Most Choice Collection of Popular Songs/Highland Mary

by Robert Burns

For other versions of this work, see Highland Mary (Burns).

Highland Mary.

Ye banks, and hraes, and streams around
The castle o' Montgomery,
Green be your woods, and fair your flowers,
Your waters never drumlie;
There simmer first unfalds her robes,
And there they langest tarry;
For there I took the last fareweel
O' my sweet Highland Mary.

How sweetly bloom'd the gay green birk,
How rich the hawthorn's blossom,
As underneath their fragrant shade,
I clasp'd her to my bosom!
The golden hours, on angel wings,
Flew o'er me and my dearie;
For dear to me as light and life,
Was my sweet Highland Mary.

Wi' mony a vow and lock'd embrace,
Our parting was fu' tender;
And, pledging aft to meet again,
We tore ourselves asunder;
But, oh! fell death's untimely frost,
That nipt my flower sae early!
Now green's the sod, and cauld's the clay,
That wraps my Highland Mary.

O pale, pale now, those rosy lips,
I aft hae kiss'd sae fondly!
And clos'd for ay the sparkling glance,
That dwelt on me sae kindly!
And mouldering now in silent dust,
That heart that lov'd me dearly!
But still within my bosom's core
Shall live my Highland Mary.

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