F
a. Sharpe’s Ballad Book, p. 95, 1823. b. Nimmo, Songs and Ballads of Clydesdale, p. 211, 1882.
1
The Erle o Wigton had three daughters,
O braw wallie, but they were bonnie!
The youngest o them, and the bonniest too,
Has fallen in love wi Richie Storie.
2
‘Here’s a letter for ye, madame,
Here’s a letter for ye, madame;
The Erle o Home wad fain presume
To be a suitor to ye, madame.’
3
‘I’l hae nane o your letters, Richie;
I’l hae nane o your letters, Richie;
For I’ve made a vow, and I’ll keep it true,
That I’l have none but you, Richie.’
4
‘O do not say so, madame;
O do not say so, madame;
For I have neither land nor rent,
For to maintain you o, madame.
5
‘Ribands ye maun wear, madame,
Ribands ye maun wear, madame;
With the bands about your neck
O the goud that shines sae clear, madame.’
6
‘I’l lie ayont a dyke, Richie,
I’l lie ayont a dyke, Richie;
And I’l be aye at your command
And bidding, whan ye like, Richie.’
7
O he’s gane on the braid, braid road,
And she’s gane through the broom sae bonnie,
Her silken robes down to her heels,
And she’s awa wi Richie Storie.
8
This lady gade up the Parliament stair,
Wi pendles in her lugs sae bonnie;
Mony a lord lifted his hat,
But little did they ken she was Richie’s lady.
9
Up then spak the Erle o Home’s lady;
‘Was na ye richt sorrie, Annie,
To leave the lands o bonnie Cumbernauld
And follow Richie Storie, Annie?’
10
‘O what need I be sorrie, madame?
O what need I be sorrie, madame?
For I’ve got them that I like best,
And war ordained for me, madame.’
11
‘Cumbernauld is mine, Annie,
Cumbernauld is mine, Annie;
And a’ that’s mine, it shall be thine,
As we sit at the wine, Annie.’