Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 6

ANNIE LAURIE

Note.—Concerning the history of this song it is stated on good authority that there did really live, in the seventeenth century, an Annie Laurie. She was a daughter of Sir Robert Laurie, first baronet of the Maxwelton family, and was celebrated for her beauty. We should be glad to hear that Annie Laurie married the Mr. Douglas whose love for her inspired the writing of this poem, but records show that she became the wife of another man.

Only the first two verses were composed by Douglas; the last was added by an unknown author.

Maxwelton braes are bonnie
Where early fa’s the dew,
And it’s there that Annie Laurie
Gie’d me her promise true,—
Gie’d me her promise true,
Which ne’er forgot will be;
And for bonnie Annie Laurie
I’d lay me doune and dee.

Her brow is like the snaw drift;
Her throat is like the swan;
Her face it is the fairest
That e’er the sun shone on,—
That e’er the sun shone on;
And dark blue is her ee;
And for bonnie Annie Laurie
I’d lay me doune and dee.

Like dew on the gowan lying
Is the fa’ o’ her fairy feet;
And like winds in summer sighing,
Her voice is low and sweet,—
Her voice is low and sweet;
And she’s a’ the world to me;
And for bonnie Annie Laurie
I’d lay me doune and dee.

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