Lord John stood in his stable door,
Said he was boun to ride;
Burd Ellen stood in her bower door,
Said she'd rin by his side.
He's pitten on his cork-heel'd shoon,5
And fast awa rade he;
She's clad hersel in page array,
And after him ran she:
Till they came till a wan water,
And folks do call it Clyde;10
Then he's lookit o'er his left shoulder,
Says, "Lady, will ye ride?"
"O I learnt it wi' my bower woman,
And I learnt it for my weal,
Whanever I cam to wan water,15
To swim like ony eel."
But the firsten stap the lady stappit,
The water came till her knee;
"Ochon, alas!" said the lady,
"This water's o'er deep for me."20
The nexten stap the lady stappit,
The water came till her middle;
And sighin says that gay lady,
"I've wat my gouden girdle."
The thirden stap the lady stappit,25
The water came till her pap;
And the bairn that was in her twa sides
For cauld began to quake.
"Lie still, lie still, my ain dear babe;
Ye work your mother wae:30
Your father rides on high horse back,
Cares little for us twae."
O about the midst o' Clyde's water
There was a yeard-fast stane;
He lightly turn'd his horse about,35
And took her on him behin.