Earliest printings can be found in various Scottish Chapbooks from 1825:

a) Lilies of the valley; to which are added, This is no my plaid; Up in the morning; Flora's lament for Charly; Johnny Bluster dwalt on Clyde.
Printed by W. Macnie, Stirling, 1825

b) Peck o’ Maut; to which are added, This is no my plaid; The highland courtship.
Printed by W. Macnie, Stirling, (1820-1830)


This Is No My Plaid

O this is no 'my plaid,
My plaid, my plaid
O this is no' my plaid,
Bonnie though the colours be

The ground o 'mine was mixed wi' blue
I gat it frae the lad I lo'e
He ne'er has gi'en me cause to rue
And O! the plaid is dear to me

Farewell ye lowland plaids o' grey
Nae kindly charm for me ye hae
The tartan shall be mine for aye,
For O! the colour's dear to me.

For mine was silky soft an' warm
It wrapp'd me round frae arm to arm
And like himself it bore a charm
And O! the plaid is dear to me

Although the lad the plaid who wore
Is now upon a distant shore
And cruel seas between us roar
I'll mind the plaid that shelter'd me

The lad that gied me't likes me well
Although his name I darena tell
He likes me just as weel's himself
And O! the plaid is dear to me

O! may the plaidie yet be worn
By Caledonians yet unborn
Ill fa' the wretch wha e'er shall scorn
The plaidie that's sae dear to me

Frae surly blasts it covers me
He'll me himself protection gi'e
I'll lo'e him' till tha day I die
And oh his plaid is dear to me

I hope he'll no forget me now
Each aften pledged aith and vow
I hope he'll yet return to woo
Me in the plaid sae dear to me

I hope the time may come my lad
When we will to the kirk and wed
Weel happit in the tartan plaid
The plaidie that's sae dear to me

O! this will then be my plaid
My plaid my plaid
O! this will then be my plaid
An while I live shall ever be.