Her father dear led her down the stair,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay;
And her sisters twain they kiss'd her there,55
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.
Her mother dear led her through the close,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay;
And her brother John set her on her horse,
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.60
She lean'd her o'er the saddle-bow,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay,
To give him a kiss ere she did go,
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.
He has ta'en a knife, baith lang and sharp,65
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay,
And stabb'd the bonny bride to the heart,
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.
She hadna ridden half thro' the town,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay,70
Until her heart's blood stained her gown,
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.
"Ride saftly on," said the best young man,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay;
"For I think our bonny bride looks pale and wan,"75
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.
"O lead me gently up yon hill,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay,
And I'll there sit down, and make my will,"
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.80
"O what will you leave to your father dear?"
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay;
"The silver-shod steed that brought me here,"
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.