The Dowie Dens of Yarrow
THE BRAES O YARROW—G
[_]
“Carterhaugh, June 15, 1802.” “Scotch Ballads, Materials
for Border Minstrelsy,” No 135, Abbotsford.
1
She kissd his mouth and she combd his hair,
As she had done before, O,
She belted him in his noble broun,
Before he went to Yarrow.
2
O he's gone up yon high, [high] hill—
I wat it was with sorrow—
In a den he spied nine weal armd men,
On the bonny banks of Yarrow.
3
‘I see that you are nine for one,
Which are of an unequal marrow;
As lang's I'm able to wield my bran,
I'll fight and be your marrow.’
4
O he has killed them a' but one,
Which bred to him great sorrow;
For up and rose that stubborn lord,
Made him sleep sound in Yarrow.
5
‘Rise up, rise up, my daughter Ann,
Go tell your sister Sarah
She may rise up go lift her lord;
He's sleeping sound in Yarrow.’
6
She's gone up yon high, high hill—
I wat it was with sorrow—
And in a den she spied nine slain men,
On the dowie banks o Yarrow.
7
O she kissed his mouth, and she combd his hair,
As she had done before, O;
She drank the bleed that from him ran,
On the dowie banks o Yarrow.
8
‘Take hame your oxen, tak hame your kye,
They've bred to me great sorrow;
I wish they had all now gone mad
First when they came to Yarrow.’
9
‘O hold your tongue now, daughter dear,
These words to me's great sorrow;
I'll wed you on a better lord
Than you have lost on Yarrow.’
10
‘O hold your tongue now, father dear,
These words to me's great sorrow;
A brighter O shall there never spread
Than I have lost in Yarrow.’
11
This lady being big with child,
And full of lamentation,
She died unto her father's arms,
Among the stubborn nation.
