Haf owre, haf owre to Aberdour, It's fiftie fadom deip, And thair lies guid Sir Patrick Spence, Wi the Scots lords at his feit. WALY, WALY, LOVE BE BONNIE (From Allingham's Ballad Book, 1864) O Waly, waly, up the bank, O waly, waly, doun the brae, Where I and my love wer wont to gae! 5 I lean'd my back unto an aik, 10 I thocht it was a trustie tree, But first it bow'd and syne it brak',- O waly, waly, but love be bonnie And fadeth awa' like the morning dew. 20 And says he'll never lo'e me mair. Noo Arthur's seat sall be my bed, The sheets sall neir be press'd by me; 25 'Tis not the frost that freezes fell, 30 But my love's heart grown cauld to me. We were a comely sicht to see; But had I wist before I kiss'd 40 And the green grass growing over me! THE TWA SISTERS O' BINNORIE (From the same) There were twa sisters sat in a bow'r; A knight cam' there, a noble wooer, 5 He courted the eldest wi' glove and ring, (Binnorie, O Binnorie!) 10 But he lo'ed the youngest aboon a' thing, The eldest she was vexed sair, (Binnorie, O Binnorie!) And sair envied her sister fair, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie. Upon a morning fair and clear, (Binnorie, O Binnorie!) 15 She cried upon her sister dear, 20 By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie. O sister, sister, tak' my hand,' 'And let's go down to the river-strand,' She's ta'en her by the lily hand, (Binnorie, O Binnorie!) And down they went to the river-strand 25 The youngest stood upon a stane, (Binnorie, O Binnorie!) 30 The eldest cam' and pushed her in, 'O sister, sister, reach your hand!' 'And ye sall be heir o' half my land'- 'O sister, reach me but your glove!' 35 And sweet William sall be your love'— By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie. 40 Sometimes she sank, sometimes she swam, Till she cam' to the mouth o' yon mill-dam, Out then cam' the miller's son (Binnorie, O Binnorie!) And saw the fair maid swimmin' in, 45 O father, father, draw your dam!' (Binnorie, O Binnorie!) 50 'There's either a mermaid or a swan,' By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie. The miller quickly drew the dam, (Binnorie, O Binnorie!) And there he found a drown'd woman, Round about her middle sma' 55 There went a gouden girdle bra' 60 All amang her yellow hair (Binnorie, O Binnorie!) A string o' pearls was twisted rare, On her fingers lily-white, (Binnorie, O Binnorie!) The jewel-rings were shining bright, 65 And by there cam' a harper fine, (Binnorie, O Binnorie!) Harped to nobles when they dine, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie. 70 And when he looked that lady on, He sigh'd and made a heavy moan, He's ta'en three locks o' her yellow hair, 75 And wi' them strung his harp sae rare, 80 He went into her father's hall, And played his harp before them all, And sune the harp sang loud and clear, 'Fareweel, my father and mither dear!' 85 And neist when the harp began to sing, (Binnorie, O Binnorie!) 90 'Twas 'Fareweel, sweetheart!' said the string, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie. And then as plain as plain could be, 'There sits my sister wha drowned me! By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.' |