G

“Carterhaugh, June 15, 1802.” “Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy,” No 135, Abbotsford.

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1

She kissd his mouth and she combd his hair,

As she had done before, O,

She belted him in his noble broun,

Before he went to Yarrow.

2

O he’s gone up yon high, [high] hill—

I wat it was with sorrow—

In a den he spied nine weal armd men,

On the bonny banks of Yarrow.

3

‘I see that you are nine for one,

Which are of an unequal marrow;

As lang’s I’m able to wield my bran,

I’ll fight and be your marrow.’

4

O he has killed them a’ but one,

Which bred to him great sorrow;

For up and rose that stubborn lord,

Made him sleep sound in Yarrow.

5

‘Rise up, rise up, my daughter Ann,

Go tell your sister Sarah

She may rise up go lift her lord;

He’s sleeping sound in Yarrow.’

6

She’s gone up yon high, high hill—

I wat it was with sorrow—

And in a den she spied nine slain men,

On the dowie banks o Yarrow.

7

O she kissed his mouth, and she combd his hair,

As she had done before, O;

She drank the bleed that from him ran,

On the dowie banks o Yarrow.

8

‘Take hame your oxen, tak hame your kye,

They’ve bred to me great sorrow;

I wish they had all now gone mad

First when they came to Yarrow.’

9

‘O hold your tongue now, daughter dear,

These words to me’s great sorrow;

I’ll wed you on a better lord

Than you have lost on Yarrow.’

10

‘O hold your tongue now, father dear,

These words to me’s great sorrow;

A brighter O shall there never spread

Than I have lost in Yarrow.’

11

This lady being big with child,

And full of lamentation,

She died unto her father’s arms,

Among the stubborn nation.