Anne Grant (M’Vicar) of Laggan (1755–1838)

COULD I find a bonnie glen,

Warm and calm, warm and calm:

Could I find a bonnie glen,

Warm and calm;

Free frae din, and far frae men,

There my wanton kids I’d pen,

Where woodbines shade some den,

Breathing balm, breathing balm;

Where woodbines shade some den,

Breathing balm.

Where the steep and woody hill

Shields the deer, shields the deer;

Where the steep and woody hill

Shields the deer;

Where the woodlark, singing shrill,

Guards his nest beside the rill,

And the thrush, with tawny bill,

Warbles clear, warbles clear;

Where the thrush, with tawny bill,

Warbles clear.

Where the dashing waterfall

Echoes round, echoes round;

Where the dashing waterfall

Echoes round;

And the rustling aspen tall,

And the owl, at evening’s call,

Plaining from the ivied wall,

Joins the sound, joins the sound;

Plaining from the ivied wall,

Joins the sound.

There my only love I’d own,

All unseen, all unseen;

There my only love I’d own,

All unseen;

There I’d live for her alone,

To the restless world unknown,

And my heart should be the throne

For my queen, for my queen;

And my heart should be the throne

For my queen!