She's lean'd her back to the thorn, Edinbro', Edinbro',
She's lean'd her back to the thorn, Stirling for aye;
She's lean'd her back to the thorn,
There has her baby born,
So proper Saint Johnston stands fair upon Tay.20
"O bonny baby, if ye suck sair, Edinbro', Edinbro',
O bonny baby, if ye suck sair, Stirling for aye;
O bonny baby, if ye suck sair,
You'll never suck by my side mair,"
So proper Saint Johnston stands fair upon Tay.25
She's riven the muslin frae her head, Edinbro', Edinbro',
She's riven the muslin frae her head, Stirling for aye;
She's riven the muslin frae her head,
Tied the baby hand and feet,
So proper Saint Johnston stands fair upon Tay.30
Out she took her little penknife, Edinbro', Edinbro',
Out she took her little penknife, Stirling for aye;
Out she took her little penknife,
Twin'd the young thing o' its life,
So proper Saint Johnston stands fair upon Tay.35
She's howk'd a hole anent the meen, Edinbro', Edinbro',
She's howk'd a hole anent the meen, Stirling for aye;
She's howk'd a hole anent the meen,
There laid her sweet baby in,
So proper Saint Johnston stands fair upon Tay.40
She had her to her father's ha', Edinbro', Edinbro',
She had her to her father's ha', Stirling for aye;
She had her to her father's ha',
She was the meekest maid amang them a',
So proper Saint Johnston stands fair upon Tay.45
It fell ance upon a day, Edinbro', Edinbro',
It fell ance upon a day, Stirling for aye;
It fell ance upon a day,
She saw twa babies at their play,
So proper Saint Johnston stands fair upon Tay.50
"O bonny babies, gin ye were mine, Edinbro', Edinbro',
O bonny babies, gin ye were mine, Stirling for aye;
O bonny babies, gin ye were mine,
I'd cleathe you in the silks sae fine,"
So proper Saint Johnston stands fair upon Tay.55
"O wild mother, when we were thine, Edinbro', Edinbro',
O wild mother, when we were thine, Stirling for aye;
O wild mother, when we were thine,
You cleath'd us not in silks sae fine,
So proper Saint Johnston stands fair upon Tay.60