| 1 |
There was twa sisters in a bowr,
Edinburgh, Edinburgh
There was twa sisters in a bowr,
Stirling for ay
There was twa sisters in a bowr,
There came a knight to be their wooer.
Bonny Saint Johnston stands upon Tay |
| 2 |
He courted the eldest wi glove an ring,
Edinburgh, Edinburgh
He courted the eldest wi glove an ring,
Stirling for ay
He courted the eldest wi glove an ring,
But he lovd the youngest above a' thing.
Bonny Saint Johnston stands upon Tay |
| 3 |
He courted the eldest wi brotch an knife,
Edinburgh, Edinburgh
He courted the eldest wi brotch an knife,
Stirling for ay
He courted the eldest wi brotch an knife,
But lovd the youngest as his life.
Bonny Saint Johnston stands upon Tay |
| 4 |
The eldest she was vexed sair,
Edinburgh, Edinburgh
The eldest she was vexed sair,
Stirling for ay
The eldest she was vexed sair,
An much envi'd her sister fair.
Bonny Saint Johnston stands upon Tay |
| 5 |
Into her bowr she could not rest,
Edinburgh, Edinburgh
Into her bowr she could not rest,
Stirling for ay
Into her bowr she could not rest,
Wi grief an spite she almos brast.
Bonny Saint Johnston stands upon Tay |
| 6 |
Upon a morning fair an clear,
Edinburgh, Edinburgh
Upon a morning fair an clear,
Stirling for ay
Upon a morning fair an clear,
She cried upon her sister dear:
Bonny Saint Johnston stands upon Tay |
| 7 |
'O sister, come to yon sea stran,
Edinburgh, Edinburgh
'O sister, come to yon sea stran,
Stirling for ay
'O sister, come to yon sea stran,
An see our father's ships come to lan.'
Bonny Saint Johnston stands upon Tay |
| 8 |
She's taen her by the milk-white han,
Edinburgh, Edinburgh
She's taen her by the milk-white han,
Stirling for ay
She's taen her by the milk-white han,
An led her down to yon sea stran.
Bonny Saint Johnston stands upon Tay |
| 9 |
The younges[t] stood upon a stane,
Edinburgh, Edinburgh
The younges[t] stood upon a stane,
Stirling for ay
The younges[t] stood upon a stane,
The eldest came an threw her in.
Bonny Saint Johnston stands upon Tay |
| 10 |
She tooke her by the middle sma,
Edinburgh, Edinburgh
She tooke her by the middle sma,
Stirling for ay
She tooke her by the middle sma,
An dashd her bonny back to the jaw.
Bonny Saint Johnston stands upon Tay |
| 11 |
'O sister, sister, tak my han,
Edinburgh, Edinburgh
'O sister, sister, tak my han,
Stirling for ay
'O sister, sister, tak my han,
An Ise mack you heir to a' my lan.
Bonny Saint Johnston stands upon Tay |
| 12 |
'O sister, sister, tak my middle,
Edinburgh, Edinburgh
'O sister, sister, tak my middle,
Stirling for ay
'O sister, sister, tak my middle,
An yes get my goud and my gouden girdle.
Bonny Saint Johnston stands upon Tay |
| 13 |
'O sister, sister, save my life,
Edinburgh, Edinburgh
'O sister, sister, save my life,
Stirling for ay
'O sister, sister, save my life,
An I swear Ise never be nae man's wife.'
Bonny Saint Johnston stands upon Tay |
| 14 |
'Foul fa the han that I should tacke,
Edinburgh, Edinburgh
'Foul fa the han that I should tacke,
Stirling for ay
'Foul fa the han that I should tacke,
It twin'd me an my wardles make.
Bonny Saint Johnston stands upon Tay |
| 15 |
'Your cherry cheeks an yallow hair
Edinburgh, Edinburgh
'Your cherry cheeks an yallow hair
Stirling for ay
'Your cherry cheeks an yallow hair
Gars me gae maiden for evermair.'
Bonny Saint Johnston stands upon Tay |
| 16 |
Sometimes she sank, an sometimes she swam,
Edinburgh, Edinburgh
Sometimes she sank, an sometimes she swam,
Stirling for ay
Sometimes she sank, an sometimes she swam,
Till she came down yon bonny mill-dam.
Bonny Saint Johnston stands upon Tay |
| 17 |
O out it came the miller's son,
Edinburgh, Edinburgh
O out it came the miller's son,
Stirling for ay
O out it came the miller's son,
An saw the fair maid swimmin in.
Bonny Saint Johnston stands upon Tay |
| 18 |
'O father, father, draw your dam,
Edinburgh, Edinburgh
'O father, father, draw your dam,
Stirling for ay
'O father, father, draw your dam,
Here's either a mermaid or a swan.'
Bonny Saint Johnston stands upon Tay |
| 19 |
The miller quickly drew the dam,
Edinburgh, Edinburgh
The miller quickly drew the dam,
Stirling for ay
The miller quickly drew the dam,
An there he found a drownd woman.
Bonny Saint Johnston stands upon Tay |
| 20 |
You coudna see her yallow hair
Edinburgh, Edinburgh
You coudna see her yallow hair
Stirling for ay
You coudna see her yallow hair
For gold and pearle that were so rare.
Bonny Saint Johnston stands upon Tay |
| 21 |
You coudna see her middle sma
Edinburgh, Edinburgh
You coudna see her middle sma
Stirling for ay
You coudna see her middle sma
For gouden girdle that was sae braw.
Bonny Saint Johnston stands upon Tay |
| 22 |
You coudna see her fingers white,
Edinburgh, Edinburgh
You coudna see her fingers white,
Stirling for ay
You coudna see her fingers white,
For gouden rings that was sae gryte.
Bonny Saint Johnston stands upon Tay |
| 23 |
An by there came a harper fine,
Edinburgh, Edinburgh
An by there came a harper fine,
Stirling for ay
An by there came a harper fine,
That harped to the king at dine.
Bonny Saint Johnston stands upon Tay |
| 24 |
When he did look that lady upon,
Edinburgh, Edinburgh
When he did look that lady upon,
Stirling for ay
When he did look that lady upon,
He sighd and made a heavy moan.
Bonny Saint Johnston stands upon Tay |
| 25 |
He's taen three locks o her yallow hair,
Edinburgh, Edinburgh
He's taen three locks o her yallow hair,
Stirling for ay
He's taen three locks o her yallow hair,
An wi them strung his harp sae fair.
Bonny Saint Johnston stands upon Tay |
| 26 |
The first tune he did play and sing,
Edinburgh, Edinburgh
The first tune he did play and sing,
Stirling for ay
The first tune he did play and sing,
Was, 'Farewell to my father the king.'
Bonny Saint Johnston stands upon Tay |
| 27 |
The nextin tune that he playd syne,
Edinburgh, Edinburgh
The nextin tune that he playd syne,
Stirling for ay
The nextin tune that he playd syne,
Was, 'Farewell to my mother the queen.'
Bonny Saint Johnston stands upon Tay |
| 28 |
The lasten tune that he playd then,
Edinburgh, Edinburgh
The lasten tune that he playd then,
Stirling for ay
The lasten tune that he playd then,
Was, 'Wae to my sister, fair Ellen.'
Bonny Saint Johnston stands upon Tay |
