Ed de Moel

Child Ballads - Lyrics

Child 10
The Twa Sisters
Version I

Kinloch Manuscripts, B, 425. From the recitation of M. Kinnear, 23d August, 1826.

Narrative

1   There war twa sisters lived in a bouer,
      Binnorie and Binnorie
There cam a squire to court them baith.
      At the bonnie mill-streams o Binnorie
2   He courted the eldest with Jewels and rings,
      Binnorie and Binnorie
But he lovd the youngest the best of all things.
      At the bonnie mill-streams o Binnorie
3   He courted the eldest with a penknife,
      Binnorie and Binnorie
He lovd the youngest as dear as his life.
      At the bonnie mill-streams o Binnorie
4   It fell ance upon a day
      Binnorie and Binnorie
That these twa sisters hae gane astray.
      At the bonnie mill-streams o Binnorie
5   It was for to meet their father's ships that had come in.
      Binnorie and Binnorie
. . . . .
      At the bonnie mill-streams o Binnorie
6   As they walked up the linn,
      Binnorie and Binnorie
The eldest dang the youngest in.
      At the bonnie mill-streams o Binnorie
7   'O sister, sister, tak my hand,
      Binnorie and Binnorie
And ye'll hae Lud John and aw his land.'
      At the bonnie mill-streams o Binnorie
8   With a silver wand she pushd her in,
      Binnorie and Binnorie
. . . . .
      At the bonnie mill-streams o Binnorie
9   'O sister, sister, tak my glove,
      Binnorie and Binnorie
And ye sall hae my ain true love.'
      At the bonnie mill-streams o Binnorie
10   The miller's dochter cam out wi speed.
      Binnorie and Binnorie
It was for a water to bake her bread.
      At the bonnie mill-streams o Binnorie
11   'O father, father, gae slack your dam;
      Binnorie and Binnorie
There's either a white fish or a swan.'
      At the bonnie mill-streams o Binnorie
* * * * *
12   Bye cam a blind fiddler that way,
      Binnorie and Binnorie
And he took three tets o her bonnie yellow hair.
      At the bonnie mill-streams o Binnorie
13   And the first spring that he playd,
      Binnorie and Binnorie
It said, 'It was my sister threw me in.'
      At the bonnie mill-streams o Binnorie

This page most recently updated on 05-Mar-2011, 10:17:45.
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