Come all ye jolly shepherds,
that whistle through the glen,
I'll tell you of a secret
that courtiers dinna ken;
what is the greatest bliss
that the tongue o' man can name ?
'tis to woo a bonnie lassie,
when the kye come hame.

When the kye come hame,
when the kye come hame,
'tween the gloamin and the mirk
when the kye come hame.

'Tis not beneath the burgonet,
nor yet beneath the crown,
'tis not on couch of velvet,
nor yet on bed of down;
'tis beneath the spreading birch,
in the dell without a name,
wi' a bonnie, bonnie lassie,
when the kye come hame.

Then the eyes shine sae brightly,
the hale soul to beguile,
there's love in ev’ry whisper
and joy in every smile;
O! wha would choose a crown,
wi' its perils and its hame?
And miss a bonnie lassie,
when the kye come hame.

See yonder pawky shepherd
that lingers on the hill,
his yowes are in the fauld,
and his lambs are lying still ;
but he downa gang to rest,
for his heart is in a flame,
to meet his bonnie lassie,
when the kye come hame.

Awa’ wi' fame and fortune
what comfort can they gi’e?
And a' the arts that prey
upon man's life and libertie!
Gi’e me the highest joy
that the heart o' man can frame,
my bonnie, bonnie lassie,
when the kye come hame !