Twa Sisters O’ Binnorie (Anonymous Americas Poems)
There were twa sisters sat in a bow'r; (Binnorie, O Binnorie!) A knight cam' there, a noble wooer, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie. He courted the eldest wi' glove and ring, (Binnorie, O Binnorie!) But he lo'ed the youngest aboon a' thing, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie. The eldest she was vexed sair, (Binnorie, O Binnorie!) And sair envìed her sister fair, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie. Upon a morning fair and clear, (Binnorie, O Binnorie !) She cried upon her sister dear, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie. `O sister, sister, tak' my hand,' (Binnorie, O Binnorie!) `And let's go down to the river-strand,' By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie. She's ta'en her by the lily hand, (Binnorie, O Binnorie!) And down they went to the river-strand By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie. The youngest stood upon a stane, (Binnorie, O Binnorie!) The eldest cam' and pushed her in, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie. 'O sister, sister, reach your hand!' (Binnorie, O Binnorie!) 'And ye sall be heir o' half my land'— By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie. 'O sister, reach me but your glove!' (Binnorie, O Binnorie!) 'And sweet William sall be your love'— By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie. Sometimes she sank, sometimes she swam, (Binnorie, O Binnorie!) Till she cam' to the mouth o' yon mill-dam, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie Out then cam' the miller's son (Binnorie, O Binnorie!) And saw the fair maid swimmin' in, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie. 'O father, father, draw your dam!' (Binnorie, O Binnorie!) 'There's either a mermaid or a swan,' By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie. The miller quickly drew the dam, (Binnorie, O Binnorie!) And there he found a drown'd womàn, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie. Round about her middle sma' (Binnorie, O Binnorie!) There went a gouden girdle bra' By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie. All amang her yellow hair (Binnorie, O Binnorie!) A string o' pearls was twisted rare, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie. On her fingers lily-white, (Binnorie, O Binnorie!) The jewel-rings were shining bright, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie. And by there cam' a harper fine, (Binnorie, O Binnorie!) Harpèd to nobles when they dine, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie. And when he looked that lady on, (Binnorie, O Binnorie!) He sigh'd and made a heavy moan, By the bonny mill-dams 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 bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie. He went into her father's hall, (Binnorie, O Binnorie!) And played his harp before them all, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie. And sune the harp sang loud and clear, (Binnorie, O Binnorie!) `Fareweel, my father and mither dear!' By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie. And neist when the harp began to sing, (Binnorie, O Binnorie!) 'Twas 'Fareweel, sweetheart!' said the string, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie. And then as plain as plain could be, (Binnorie, O Binnorie!) 'There sits my sister wha drownèd me! By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.'(Anonymous Americas)