Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 147. From I. Goldie, March, 1825.
| 1 |
There were three sisters lived in a hall,
Hey with the gay and the grandeur O
And there came a lord to court them all.
At the bonnie bows o London town. |
| 1 |
There were three sisters lived in a hall,
Hey with the gay and the grandeur O
And there came a lord to court them all.
At the bonnie bows o London town. |
| 3 |
He courted the youngest with a glove,
Hey with the gay and the grandeur O
And he said that he'd be her true love.
At the bonnie bows o London town. |
| 4 |
'O sister, O sister, will you go and take a walk,
Hey with the gay and the grandeur O
And see our father's ships how they float?
At the bonnie bows o London town. |
| 5 |
'O lean your foot upon the stone,
Hey with the gay and the grandeur O
And wash your hand in that sea-foam.'
At the bonnie bows o London town. |
| 6 |
She leaned her foot upon the stone,
Hey with the gay and the grandeur O
But her eldest sister has tumbled her down.
At the bonnie bows o London town. |
| 7 |
'O sister, sister, give me your hand,
Hey with the gay and the grandeur O
And I'll make you lady of all my land.'
At the bonnie bows o London town. |
| 8 |
'O I'll not lend to you my hand,
Hey with the gay and the grandeur O
But I'll be lady of your land.'
At the bonnie bows o London town. |
| 9 |
'O sister, sister, give me your glove,
Hey with the gay and the grandeur O
And I'll make you lady of my true love.'
At the bonnie bows o London town. |
| 10 |
'It's I'll not lend to you my glove,
Hey with the gay and the grandeur O
But I'll be lady of your true love.'
At the bonnie bows o London town. |
| 11 |
Sometimes she sank, and sometimes she swam,
Hey with the gay and the grandeur O
Until she came to a miller's dam.
At the bonnie bows o London town. |
| 12 |
The miller's daughter was coming out wi speed,
Hey with the gay and the grandeur O
For water for to bake some bread.
At the bonnie bows o London town. |
| 13 |
'O father, father, stop the dam,
Hey with the gay and the grandeur O
For it's either a lady or a milk-white swan.'
At the bonnie bows o London town. |
| 14 |
He dragged her out unto the shore,
Hey with the gay and the grandeur O
And stripped her of all she wore.
At the bonnie bows o London town. |
| 15 |
By cam a fiddler, and he was fair,
Hey with the gay and the grandeur O
And he buskit his bow in her bonnie yellow hair.
At the bonnie bows o London town. |
| 16 |
By cam her father's harper, and he was fine,
Hey with the gay and the grandeur O
he made a harp o her bonny breast-bone.
At the bonnie bows o London town. |
| 17 |
When they came to her father's court,
Hey with the gay and the grandeur O
The harp [and fiddle these words] spoke:
At the bonnie bows o London town. |
| 18 |
'O God bless my father the king,
Hey with the gay and the grandeur O
And I wish the same to my mother the queen.
At the bonnie bows o London town. |
| 19 |
'My sister Jane she tumbled me in,
Hey with the gay and the grandeur O
. . . . .
At the bonnie bows o London town.
* * * * * |
