The Bonny Highland Lad (1815, Falkirk)/The Bonny Highland Lad

by Anonymous

THE
BONNY HIGHLAND LAD.

 

Down by yon shady grove,
One day I chanc'd to rove,
To pass the dull hours away:
Beneath a myrtle shade,

I spy'd a lovely maid,
On her spinnet she sweetly did play,
To yield me more delight,
This charming Lady bright,
In concert the sung, very sad,
Unhappy maid am I,
That sure of love must die,
For my bonny Highland Lad.

I drew a little near,
The better for to hear,
And this charming creature sung
"My Love has cross'd the sea;
Alas! he's gone from me,
This charming comely young man.
His lovely air and mien,
May well deserve a Queen,
Altho' that his fortune is bad:
But yet I hope to see,
My love before I die;
Oh! my bonny, bonny Highland Lad.

While he abroad doth rove,
The Highland Lad I love,
May he be preserv'd from all harms;
Success his steps attend,
Till Providence him send
Safe again back to my arms.

If in battle he be slain,
All pleasure I'll disdain,
I'll rove quite distracted and mad;
There's none to ease my care,
The loss I cannot bear
Of my bonny, bonny Highland lad,

First when my Love I'd seen,
One day in Aberdeen,
My senses were ravished quite!
He was proper, straight and tall,
The comeliest of them all:
He's my only joy and delight!

I near unto him drew,
His bonnet it was blue,
He was dress'd in his tartans and plaid:
A captive I became,
And think it is no shame,
For my bonny, bonny Highland Lad!

Oh! if I knew but where
To find my dearest dear,
I would range the wide world all o'er!
To sea I would repair,
Dressed in man's attire,
To find out the youth I adore.
Thro' lonely woods I'll stray,
And flow'ry meadows gay,
I will leave my mammy and dad;
And never will return,
But always sigh and mourn,
For my bonny, bonny Highland Lad.

 

Divider from 'The Bonny Highland Lad', a chapbook printed in Falkirk in 1815