"O open, open, mother," he says,
"O open, and let me in;
The rain rains on my yellow hair,55
And the dew drops o'er my chin,—
And I hae my young son in my arms,
I fear that his days are dune."
With her fingers lang and sma'
She lifted up the pin;60
And with her arms lang and sma'
Received the baby in.
"Gae back, gae back now, Sweet Willie,
And comfort your fair lady;
For where ye had but ae nourice,65
Your young son shall hae three."
Willie he was scarce awa',
And the lady put to bed,
When in and came her father dear:
"Make haste, and busk the bride."70
"There's a sair pain in my head, father,
There's a sair pain in my side;
And ill, O ill, am I, father,
This day for to be a bride."
"O ye maun busk this bonny bride,75
And put a gay mantle on;
For she shall wed this auld French lord,
Gin she should die the morn."
Some put on the gay green robes,
And some put on the brown;80
But Janet put on the scarlet robes,
To shine foremost through the town.
And some they mounted the black steed,
And some mounted the brown;
But Janet mounted the milk-white steed,85
To ride foremost through the town.
"O wha will guide your horse, Janet?
O wha will guide him best?"
"O wha but Willie, my true love,
He kens I lo'e him best!"90