Historical & Legendary Ballads & Songs By Walter Thornbury. Illustrated by J. Whistler, F. Walker, John Tenniel, J. D. Watson, W. Small, F. Sandys, G. J. Pinwell, T. Morten, M. J. Lawless, and many others |
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An old Ballad Re-written.
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 | Historical & Legendary Ballads & Songs |  |
An old Ballad Re-written.
ANNAN WATER.
“Annan water's roaring deep,
But my love Annie's wondrous bonny;
I'm loth that she should wet her feet,
For, oh! I love her best of ony.
But my love Annie's wondrous bonny;
I'm loth that she should wet her feet,
For, oh! I love her best of ony.
“Go, saddle me the bonny black,
Go, saddle quick, and make him ready;
For I will down the Gatehope Slack,
And see my winsome little lady.
Go, saddle quick, and make him ready;
For I will down the Gatehope Slack,
And see my winsome little lady.
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“And saddle me the bonny grey,
I'll lead her till the black is weary;
And fill me up a cup of wine.
For, eh! the storm is loud and dreary.
I'll lead her till the black is weary;
And fill me up a cup of wine.
For, eh! the storm is loud and dreary.
“I vowed to dance with her to-night,
I swore it on the lips of Annie;
I swore it with her hand in mine,
And not by one oath, but by many.
I swore it on the lips of Annie;
I swore it with her hand in mine,
And not by one oath, but by many.
“Though Annan water ran with gold,
And I could scoop it out at leisure,
I'd give it all to have to-night
Two honey kisses from my treasure.”
And I could scoop it out at leisure,
I'd give it all to have to-night
Two honey kisses from my treasure.”
He's leaped upon his bonny black,
From either spur the blood was flying;
But ere he won the Gatehope Slack,
The horse was not an hour from dying.
From either spur the blood was flying;
But ere he won the Gatehope Slack,
The horse was not an hour from dying.
And louder grew the angry Clyde,
From bank to brae the waters pouring;
They hungered for a drowning man;
'Twas for more food that they were roaring.
From bank to brae the waters pouring;
They hungered for a drowning man;
'Twas for more food that they were roaring.
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He's leaped upon the bonnie grey,
He rode as straight and fair as any;
And he would neither halt nor stay,
For he was seeking bonnie Annie.
He rode as straight and fair as any;
And he would neither halt nor stay,
For he was seeking bonnie Annie.
He's ridden fast o'er field and fell,
Through moss and moor, and pool and mire;
His spurs with red were dripping fast,
And from the steel hoofs flashed the fire.
Through moss and moor, and pool and mire;
His spurs with red were dripping fast,
And from the steel hoofs flashed the fire.
“Now, bonny grey, now play your part,
If ye're the steed to win my deary,
On corn and hay ye'll live for aye,
And never spur shall make you weary.”
If ye're the steed to win my deary,
On corn and hay ye'll live for aye,
And never spur shall make you weary.”
The grey she was of right good blood,
But when she reached the nearest ford,
She couldn't have gone a furlong more
Though you had smote her with a sword.
But when she reached the nearest ford,
She couldn't have gone a furlong more
Though you had smote her with a sword.
“Oh, boatman, boatman, bring your boat!
I'll give you, man, good golden money
To put me o'er the darkening stream,
For I must cross to see my honey.
I'll give you, man, good golden money
To put me o'er the darkening stream,
For I must cross to see my honey.
“I swore an oath to her last night,
And not one oath alone, but many,
That though it rained a stream of fire,
I'd cross and see my winsome Annie.”
And not one oath alone, but many,
That though it rained a stream of fire,
I'd cross and see my winsome Annie.”
The sides are steep, the flood is deep,
From brae to bank the falls are pouring:
The bonnie grey mare sweats for fear,
To hear the Water Kelpy roaring.
From brae to bank the falls are pouring:
The bonnie grey mare sweats for fear,
To hear the Water Kelpy roaring.
He's thrown away his velvet coat,
His silver buckle, hat and feather,
He's burst the waistcoat from his breast,
He's thrown away his broad belt leather.
His silver buckle, hat and feather,
He's burst the waistcoat from his breast,
He's thrown away his broad belt leather.
He's ta'en the ford, now help him, Lord!
I wot he swam both strong and steady;
But the tide was broad, his strength it failed,
—He never saw his bonny lady.
I wot he swam both strong and steady;
But the tide was broad, his strength it failed,
—He never saw his bonny lady.
“Oh, woe betide the willow wand,
And woe betide the brittle briar!
They broke when grasped by my love's hand,
When his strong limbs began to tire.”
And woe betide the brittle briar!
They broke when grasped by my love's hand,
When his strong limbs began to tire.”
“Now woe betide ye, Annan stream!
This night ye are a mournful river;
Over thy floods I'll build a brig,
That ye no more true love may sever.”
This night ye are a mournful river;
Over thy floods I'll build a brig,
That ye no more true love may sever.”
| Historical & Legendary Ballads & Songs | |