1 It fell about the gude Yule time,
When caps and stoups gaed roun,
Down it came him Young Waters,
To welcome James, our king.
2 The great, the great, rade a' together,
The sma came a' behin,
But wi Young Waters, that brave knight,
There came a gay gatherin.
3 The horse Young Waters rade upon,
It cost him hunders nine;
For he was siller-shod before,
And gowd-graith had behin.
4 At ilka tippit o his horse mane
There hang a siller bell;
The wind was loud, the steed was proud,
And they gae a sindry knell.
5 The king he lay ower's castle-wa,
Beheld baith dale and down,
And he beheld him Young Waters,
Come riding to the town.
6 He turnd him right and round about,
And to the queen said he,
Who is the bravest man, my dame,
That ever your een did see?
7 'I've seen lairds, and I've seen lords,
And knights o high degree,
But a braver man than Young Waters
My een did never see.'
8 He turnd him right and roun about,
And ane angry man was he:
'O wae to you, my dame, the queen,
Ye might hae excepted me!'
9 'Ye are nae laird, ye are nae lord,
Ye are the king that wears the crown;
There's nae a lord in fair Scotland
But unto you maun a' bow down.'
10 'O lady, for your love-choicing,
Ye shall win to your will;
The morn, or I eat or drink,
Young Waters I'll gar kill.'