Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 383.
From the recitation of Agnes Lyle, Kilbarchan, 27th July, 1825.
| 1 |
There was two ladies livd in a bower,
Hey with a gay and a grinding O
The youngest o them was the fairest flower
About a' the bonny bows o London. |
| 2 |
There was two ladies livd in a bower,
Hey with a gay and a grinding O
An wooer unto the youngest did go.
About a' the bonny bows o London. |
| 3 |
The oldest one to the youngest did say,
Hey with a gay and a grinding O
'Will ye take a walk with me today,
And we'll view the bonny bows o London. |
| 4 |
'Thou'll set thy foot whare I set mine,
Hey with a gay and a grinding O
Thou'll set thy foot upon this stane.'
And we'll view the bonny bows o London. |
| 5 |
'I'll set my foot where thou sets thine:'
Hey with a gay and a grinding O
The old sister dang the youngest in,
At the bonny bows o London. |
| 6 |
'O sister dear, come tak my hand,
Hey with a gay and a grinding O
Take my life safe to dry land,'
At the bonny bows o London. |
| 7 |
'It's neer by my hand thy hand sall come in,
Hey with a gay and a grinding O
It's neer by my hand thy hand sall come in,
At the bonny bows o London. |
| 8 |
'It's thy cherry cheeks and thy white briest bane
Hey with a gay and a grinding O
Gars me set a maid owre lang at hame.'
At the bonny bows o London. |
| 9 |
She clasped her hand[s] about a brume rute,
Hey with a gay and a grinding O
But her cruel sister she lowsed them out.
At the bonny bows o London. |
| 10 |
Sometimes she sank, and sometimes she swam,
Hey with a gay and a grinding O
Till she cam to the miller's dam.
At the bonny bows o London. |
| 11 |
The miller's bairns has muckle need,
Hey with a gay and a grinding O
They were bearing in water to bake some breid.
At the bonny bows o London. |
| 12 |
Says, 'Father, dear father, in our mill-dam,
Hey with a gay and a grinding O
It's either a fair maid or a milk-white swan.'
At the bonny bows o London. |
| 13 |
The miller he's spared nae his hose nor his shoon
Hey with a gay and a grinding O
Till he brocht this lady till dry land.
At the bonny bows o London. |
| 14 |
I wad he saw na a bit o her feet,
Hey with a gay and a grinding O
Her silver slippers were made so neat.
At the bonny bows o London. |
| 15 |
I wad he saw na a bit o her skin,
Hey with a gay and a grinding O
For ribbons there was mony a ane.
At the bonny bows o London. |
| 16 |
He laid her on a brume buss to dry,
Hey with a gay and a grinding O
To see wha was the first wad pass her by.
At the bonny bows o London. |
| 17 |
Her ain father's herd was the first man
Hey with a gay and a grinding O
That by this lady gay did gang.
At the bonny bows o London. |
| 18 |
He's taen three links of her yellow hair,
Hey with a gay and a grinding O
And made it a string to his fiddle there.
At the bonny bows o London. |
| 19 |
He's cut her fingers long and small
Hey with a gay and a grinding O
To be fiddle-pins that neer might fail.
At the bonny bows o London. |
| 20 |
The very first spring that the fiddle did play,
Hey with a gay and a grinding O
'Hang my auld sister,' I wad it did say.
At the bonny bows o London. |
| 21 |
'For she drowned me in yonder sea,
Hey with a gay and a grinding O
God neer let her rest till she shall die,'
At the bonny bows o London. |
