“Perhaps there may be bairns, kind sir,
Perhaps there may be nane;
But if you be a courtier,
You’ll tell to me your name.”
“I am na courtier, fair maid,
But new come frae the sea;
I am nae courtier, fair maid,
But when I court’ith thee.
“They call me Jack when I’m abroad,
Sometimes they call me John;
But when I’m in my father’s bower
Jock Randal is my name.”
“Ye lee, ye lee, ye bonny lad,
Sae loud’s I hear ye lee!
For I’m Lord Randal’s yae daughter,
He has nae mair nor me.”
“Ye lee, ye lee, ye bonny may,
Sae loud’s I hear ye lee!
For I’m Lord Randal’s yae yae son,
Just now come oer the sea.”
She’s putten her hand down by her spare
And out she’s taen a knife,
And she has putn’t in her heart’s bluid,
And taen away her life.
And he’s taen up his bonny sister,
With the big tear in his een,
And he has buried his bonny sister
Amang the hollins green.
And syne he’s hyed him oer the dale,
His father dear to see:
“Sing O and O for my bonny hind,
Beneath yon hollin tree!”
“What needs you care for your bonny hyn?
For it you needna care;
There’s aught score hyns in yonder park,
And five score hyns to spare.
“Fourscore of them are siller-shod,
Of thae ye may get three;”
“But O and O for my bonny hyn,
Beneath yon hollin tree!”