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| THERE was twa sisters in a bowr, | |
| Binnorie, O Binnorie | |
| There was twa sisters in a bowr, | |
| Binnorie, O Binnorie | |
| There was twa sisters in a bowr, | 5 |
| There came a knight to be their wooer, | |
| By the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie. | |
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| He courted the eldest wi glove an ring, | |
| But he lovd the youngest above a’ thing. | |
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| He courted the eldest wi brotch an knife, | 10 |
| But lovd the Youngest as his life. | |
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| The eldest she was vexed sair, | |
| An much envi’d her sister fair. | |
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| Into her bowr she could not rest, | |
| Wi grief an spite she almos brast. | 15 |
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| Upon a morning fair an clear, | |
| She cried upon her sister dear: | |
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| “O sister, come to yon sea stran, | |
| An see our father’s ships come to lan.” | |
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| She’s taen her by the milk-white han, | 20 |
| And led her down to yon sea stran. | |
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| The younges[t] stood upon a stane, | |
| The eldest came an threw her in. | |
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| She tooke her by the middle sma, | |
| And dashd her bonny back to the jaw. 1 | 25 |
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| “O sister, sister, tak my han, | |
| An Ise 2 mack you heir to a’ my lan. | |
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| “O sister, sister, tak my middle, | |
| An Yes 3 get my goud 4 and my gouden girdle. | |
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| “O sister, sister, save my life, | 30 |
| An I swear Ise never be nae man’s wife.” | |
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| “Foul fa the han that I should tacke, | |
| It twin’ d 5 me an my wardles make. 6 | |
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| “Your cherry cheeks an yallow hair | |
| Gars 7 me gae maiden for evermair.” | 35 |
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| Sometimes she sank, an sometimes she swam, | |
| Till she came down yon bonny mill-dam. | |
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| O out it came the miller’s son, | |
| An saw the fair maid swimmin in. | |
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| “O father, father, draw your dam, | 40 |
| Here’s either a mermaid or a swan.” | |
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| The miller quickly drew the dam, | |
| An there he found a drownd woman. | |
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| You coudna see her yallow hair | |
| For gold and pearle that were so rare. | 45 |
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| You coudna see her middle sma | |
| For gouden girdle that was sae braw. | |
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| You coudna see her fingers white, | |
| For gouden rings that was sae gryte. 8 | |
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| An by there came a harper fine, | 50 |
| That harped to the king at dine. | |
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| When he did look that lady upon, | |
| He sighd and made a heavy moan. | |
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| He’s taen three locks o her yallow hair, | |
| An wi them strung his harp sae fair. | 55 |
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| The first tune he did play and sing, | |
| Was, “Farewell to my father the king.” | |
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| The nextin tune that he playd syne, 9 | |
| Was, “Farewell to my mother the queen.” | |
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| The lasten tune that he playd then, | 60 |
| Was, “Wae to my sister, fair Ellen.” | |
