University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
The English and Scottish Popular Ballads

Edited by Francis James Child.

expand sectionI. 
expand sectionII. 
expand sectionIII. 
collapse sectionIV. 
expand section83. 
expand section84. 
expand section85. 
expand section86. 
expand section87. 
expand section88. 
expand section89. 
expand section90. 
expand section91. 
expand section92. 
expand section93. 
expand section94. 
expand section95. 
expand section96. 
expand section97. 
expand section98. 
expand section99. 
expand section100. 
expand section101. 
expand section102. 
expand section103. 
expand section104. 
expand section105. 
expand section106. 
expand section107. 
expand section108. 
expand section109. 
collapse section110. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
expand section111. 
expand section112. 
expand section113. 
expand sectionV. 
expand sectionVI. 
expand sectionVII. 
expand sectionVIII. 
expand sectionIX. 

Bar aye your bower door weel

KEMPY KAY—F

[_]

Campbell MSS, II, 101.

1

As I cam oer yon misty muir,
And oer yon grass-green hill,
There I saw a campy carle
Going to the mill.
And bar aye yer bower door weel weel,
And bar aye yer bower door weel.

2

I lookit in at her window,
And in at her hove hole,
And there I saw a fousome fag,
Cowering oer a coal.

3

‘Get up, get up, ye fousome fag,
And make yer face fou clean;
For the wooers will be here the night,
And your body will be seen.’

4

He gave her a gay cravat,
'T was of an auld horse-sheet;
He gave her a gay goud ring,
'Twas of an auld tree root.

5

He laid his arms about her neck,
They were like kipple-roots;
And aye he kissd her wi his lips,
They were like meller's hoops.

6

When they were laid in marriage bed,
And covered oer wi fail,
The knocking mell below their heads
Did serve them wondrous weel.

7

Ilka pap into her breasts
Was like a saffron bag,
And aye his hand at her a [OMITTED] e
Was tearing up the scabs.

8

Ilka hair into her head
Was like a heather-cow,
And ilka louse that lookit out
Was like a brookit ewe.