Binnorie

There were twa sisters sat in a bour;

Binnorie, O Binnorie!

There cam a knight to be their wooer,

By the bonnie milldams o' Binnorie.

He courted the eldest with glove and ring,

Binnorie, O Binnorie!

But he lo'ed the youngest abune a' thing.

By the bonnie milldams o' Binnorie.

The eldest she was vexéd sair,

Binnorie, O Binnorie!

And sair envíed her sister fair.

By the bonnie milldams o' Binnorie.

Upon a morning fair and clear,

Binnorie, O Binnorie!

She cried upon her sister dear:

By the bonnie milldams o' Binnorie.

"O sister, sister tak my hand,

Binnorie, O Binnorie!

And let's go down to the river-strand."

By the bonnie milldams o' Binnorie.

She's ta'en her by the lily hand,

Binnorie, O Binnorie!

And led her down to the river-strand.

By the bonnie milldams o' Binnorie.

The youngest stood upon a stane,

Binnorie, O Binnorie!

The eldest cam and push'd her in.

By the bonnie milldams o' Binnorie.

"O sister, sister reach your hand!

Binnorie, O Binnorie!

And ye sall be heir o' half my land:

By the bonnie milldams o' Binnorie.

"O sister, reach me but your glove!

Binnorie, O Binnorie!

And sweet William sall be your love."

By the bonnie milldams o' Binnorie.

Sometimes she sank, sometimes she swam,

Binnorie, O Binnorie!

Until she cam to the miller's dam.

By the bonnie milldams o' Binnorie.

Out then cam the miller's son,

Binnorie, O Binnorie!

And saw the fair maid soummin' in.

By the bonnie milldams o' Binnorie.

"O father, father draw your dam!

Binnorie, O Binnorie!

There's either a mermaid or a milk-white swan."

By the bonnie milldams o' Binnorie.

The miller hasted and drew his dam,

Binnorie, O Binnorie!

And there he found a drown'd womán.

By the bonnie milldams o' Binnorie.

You couldna see her middle sma',

Binnorie, O Binnorie!

Her gowden girdle was sae braw.

By the bonnie milldams o' Binnorie.

You couldna see her lily feet,

Binnorie, O Binnorie!

Her gowden fringes were sae deep.

By the bonnie milldams o' Binnorie.

All amang her yellow hair

Binnorie, O Binnorie!

A string o' pearls was twisted rare.

By the bonnie milldams o' Binnorie.            

You couldna see her fingers sma',

Binnorie, O Binnorie!

Wi' diamond rings they were cover'd a'.

By the bonnie milldams o' Binnorie.

And by there cam a harper fine,

Binnorie, O Binnorie!

That harpit to the king at dine.

By the bonnie milldams o' Binnorie.

And when he look'd that lady on,

Binnorie, O Binnorie!

He sigh'd and made a heavy moan.

By the bonnie milldams o' Binnorie.

He's made a harp of her breast-bane,

Binnorie, O Binnorie!

Whose sound wad melt a heart of stane.

By the bonnie milldams o' Binnorie.

He's ta'en three locks o' her yellow hair,

Binnorie, O Binnorie!

And wi' them strung his harp sae rare.

By the bonnie milldams o' Binnorie.

He went into her father's hall,

Binnorie, O Binnorie!

And there was the court assembled all.

By the bonnie milldams o' Binnorie.

He laid his harp upon a stane,

Binnorie, O Binnorie!

And straight it began to play by lane.

By the bonnie milldams o' Binnorie.

"O yonder sits my father, the King,

Binnorie, O Binnorie!

And yonder sits my mother, the Queen;

By the bonnie milldams o' Binnorie.

"And yonder stands my brother Hugh,

Binnorie, O Binnorie!

And by him my William, sweet and true."

By the bonnie milldams o' Binnorie.