W
Communicated by Mr Thomas Lugton, of Kelso, as sung by an old cotter-woman fifty years ago; learned by her from her grandfather.
1
Ther were three ladies playing at the ba,
Norham, down by Norham
And there cam a knight to view them a'.
By the bonnie mill-dams o Norham
2
He courted the aldest wi diamonds and rings,
But he loved the youngest abune a' things.
* * * * *
3
'Oh sister, oh sister, lend me your hand,
And pull my poor body unto dry land.
4
'Oh sister, oh sister, lend me your glove,
And you shall have my own true love!'
5
Oot cam the miller's daughter upon Tweed,
To carry in water to bake her bread.
6
'Oh father, oh father, there's a fish in your dam;
It either is a lady or a milk-white swan.'
7
Oot cam the miller's man upon Tweed,
And there he spied a lady lying dead.
8
He could not catch her by the waist,
For her silken stays they were tight laced.
9
But he did catch her by the hand,
And pulled her poor body unto dry land.
10
He took three taets o her bonnie yellow hair,
To make harp strings they were so rare.
11
The very first tune that the bonnie harp played
Was The aldest has cuisten the youngest away.