Twa Sisters O' Binnorie

There were twa sisters sat in a bow'r;
     (Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
   A knight cam' there, a noble wooer,
     By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.
   He courted the eldest wi' glove and ring,
     (Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
   But he lo'ed the youngest aboon a' thing,
     By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.
   The eldest she was vexed sair,
    (Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
  And sair envìed her sister fair,
    By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

  Upon a morning fair and clear,
    (Binnorie, O Binnorie !)
  She cried upon her sister dear,
    By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

  `O sister, sister, tak' my hand,'
    (Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
  `And let's go down to the river-strand,'
    By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

  She's ta'en her by the lily hand,
    (Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
  And down they went to the river-strand
    By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

  The youngest stood upon a stane,
    (Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
  The eldest cam' and pushed her in,
    By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

  'O sister, sister, reach your hand!'
    (Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
  'And ye sall be heir o' half my land'--
    By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

  'O sister, reach me but your glove!'
    (Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
  'And sweet William sall be your love'--
    By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

  Sometimes she sank, sometimes she swam,
    (Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
  Till she cam' to the mouth o' yon mill-dam,
    By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie

  Out then cam' the miller's son
    (Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
  And saw the fair maid swimmin' in,
    By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

  'O father, father, draw your dam!'
    (Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
  'There's either a mermaid or a swan,'
    By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

  The miller quickly drew the dam,
    (Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
  And there he found a drown'd womàn,
    By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

  Round about her middle sma'
    (Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
  There went a gouden girdle bra'
    By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

  All amang her yellow hair
    (Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
  A string o' pearls was twisted rare,
    By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

  On her fingers lily-white,
    (Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
  The jewel-rings were shining bright,
    By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

  And by there cam' a harper fine,
    (Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
  Harpèd to nobles when they dine,
    By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

  And when he looked that lady on,
    (Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
  He sigh'd and made a heavy moan,
    By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

  He's ta'en three locks o' her yellow hair,
    (Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
  And wi' them strung his harp sae rare,
    By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

  He went into her father's hall,
    (Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
  And played his harp before them all,
    By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

  And sune the harp sang loud and clear,
    (Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
  `Fareweel, my father and mither dear!'
    By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

  And neist when the harp began to sing,
    (Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
  'Twas 'Fareweel, sweetheart!' said the string,
    By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

  And then as plain as plain could be,
    (Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
  'There sits my sister wha drownèd me!
    By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.'