Willie has taen him oer the fame, He’s woo’d a wife and brought her hame. He’s woo’d her for her yellow hair, But his mother wrought her mickle care. And mickle dolour gard her dree, For lighter she can never be. But in her bower she sits wi pain, And Willie mourns oer her in vain. And to his mother he has gone, That vile rank witch of vilest...Learn More

THE provost’s daughter went out a walking, Refrain: A may’s love whiles is easy won She heard a poor prisoner making his moan, Refrain: And she was the fair flower of Northumberland. ‘If any lady would borrow me Refrain: Out into the prison strong, I would make her a lady of high degree, Refrain: For I am a great lord in fair Scotland.’ She’s done...Learn More

There were three ravens sat on a tree, Downe a downe, hay down, hay downe There were three ravens sat on a tree, With a downe There were three ravens sat on a tree, They were as black as they might be. With a downe derrie, derrie, derrie, downe, downe The one of them said to his mate, Downe a downe, hay down, hay downe The one of them said to his...Learn More

‘RISE up, rise up, now, Lord Douglas,’ she says, ‘And put on your armour so bright; Let it never be said that a daughter of thine Was married to a lord under night. ‘Rise up, rise up, my seven bold sons, And put on your armour so bright, And take better care of your youngest sister, For your eldest’s awa the last night.’ He’s mounted her on a...Learn More

There were three ladies lived in a bower, Refrain: Eh vow bonnie And they went out to pull a flower. Refrain: On the bonnie banks o Fordie They hadna pu'ed a flower but ane, When up started to them a banisht man. He's taen the first sister by her hand, And he's turned her round and made her stand. "It's whether will ye be a rank robber's...Learn More

THERE was three ladies playd at the ba, Refrain: With a hey ho and a lillie gay There came a knight and played oer them a’. Refrain: As the primrose spreads so sweetly The eldest was baith tall and fair, But the youngest was beyond compare. The midmost had a graceful mien, But the youngest lookd like beautie’s queen. The knight bowd low to a’...Learn More

Gil Breton has sent oer the fame, He's woo'd a wife an brought her hame. Full sevenscore o ships came her wi, The lady by the greenwood tree. There was twal an twal wi beer an wine, An twal an twal wi muskadine: An twall an twall wi bouted flowr, An twall an twall wi paramour: An twall an twall wi baken bread, An twall an twall wi the goud sae...Learn More

‘WILLIE, Willie, I’ll learn you a wile,’ And the sun shines over the valleys and a’ ‘How this pretty fair maid ye may beguile.’ Amang the blue flowrs and the yellow and a’ ‘Ye maun lie doun just as ye were dead, And the sun shines over the valleys and a’ And tak your winding-sheet around your head. Amang the blue flowrs and the yellow and a’ ‘Ye...Learn More

‘WHY dois your brand sae drap wi bluid, Edward, Edward, Why dois your brand sae drap wi bluid, And why sae sad gang yee O?’ ‘O I hae killed my hauke sae guid, Mither, mither, O I hae killed my hauke sae guid, And I had nae mair bot hee O.’ ‘Your haukis bluid was nevir sae reid, Edward, Edward, Your haukis bluid was nevir sae reid, My deir son I...Learn More

ERLINTON had a fair daughter; I wat he weird her in a great sin; For he has built a bigly bower, An a’ to put that lady in. An he has warnd her sisters six, An sae has he her brethren se’en, Outher to watch her a’ the night, Or else to seek her morn an een. She hadna been i that bigly bower Na not a night but barely ane, Till there was Willie, her...Learn More

There was a king of the north countree, Refrain: Bow down, bow down, bow down There was a king of the north countree, And he had daughters one, two, three. Refrain: I’ll be true to my love, and my love’ll be true to me To the eldest he gave a beaver hat, And the youngest she thought much of that. To the youngest he gave a gay gold chain, And the...Learn More

My plaid awa, my plaid awa, And ore the hill and far awa, And far awa to Norrowa, My plaid shall not be blown awa. The elphin knight sits on yon hill, Ba, ba, ba, lilli ba He blaws his horn both lowd and shril. The wind hath blown my plaid awa He blowes it east, he blowes it west, Ba, ba, ba, lilli ba He blowes it where he lyketh best. The wind...Learn More