The Dowie Dens o Yarrow
RARE WILLIE DROWNED IN YARROW, OR, THE WATER O GAMRIE—C
[_]
Gibb MS., No 7, p. 37; from recitation. “Traced to
Eppie Fraser, daughter of a tramp, and unable to read,
circa 1840.”
1
‘Willie's fair, an Willie's rare,
An Willie's wondrous bonny,
An Willie's promised to marry me,
If eer he marry ony.’
2
‘O sister dear, I've dreamed a dream,
I'm afraid it's unco sorrow;
I dreamed I was pu'in the heather green,
In the dowie dens o Yarrow.’
3
‘O sister dear, I'll read your dream,
I'm afraid it will be sorrow;
Ye'll get a letter ere it's een
Your lover's drowned in Yarrow.’
4
She socht him up, she socht him doun,
In mickle dule an sorrow;
She found him neath a buss o brume,
In the dowie dens o Yarrow.
5
Her hair it was three quarters lang,
Its colour it was yallow;
She tied it to his middle sma,
An pu'ed him oot o Yarrow.
6
‘My bed it was made wide yestreen,
The nicht it sall be narrow;
There's neer a man lie by my side
Since Willie's drowned in Yarrow.’
