| 1 |
There was three ladies playd at the ba,
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
There came a knight and played oer them a'.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly |
| 2 |
The eldest was baith tall and fair,
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
But the youngest was beyond compare.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly |
| 3 |
The midmost had a graceful mien,
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
But the youngest lookd like beautie's queen.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly |
| 4 |
The knight bowd low to a' the three,
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
But to the youngest he bent his knee.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly |
| 5 |
The ladie turned her head aside,
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
The knight he woo'd her to be his bride.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly |
| 6 |
The ladie blushd a rosy red,
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
And sayd, 'Sir knight, I'm too young to wed.'
As the primrose spreads so sweetly |
| 7 |
'O ladie fair, give me your hand,
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
And I'll make you ladie of a' my land.'
As the primrose spreads so sweetly |
| 8 |
'Sir knight, ere ye my favor win,
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
You maun get consent frae a' my kin.'
As the primrose spreads so sweetly |
| 9 |
He's got consent frae her parents dear,
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
And likewise frae her sisters fair.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly |
| 10 |
He's got consent frae her kin each one,
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
But forgot to spiek to her brother John.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly |
| 11 |
Now, when the wedding day was come,
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
The knight would take his bonny bride home.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly |
| 12 |
And many a lord and many a knight
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
Came to behold that ladie bright.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly |
| 13 |
And there was nae man that did her see,
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
But wishd himself bridegroom to be.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly |
| 14 |
Her father dear led her down the stair,
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
And her sisters twain they kissd her there.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly |
| 15 |
Her mother dear led her thro the closs,
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
And her brother John set her on her horse.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly |
| 16 |
She leand her oer the saddle-bow,
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
To give him a kiss ere she did go.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly |
| 17 |
He has taen a knife, baith lang and sharp,
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
And stabbd that bonny bride to the heart.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly |
| 18 |
She hadno ridden half thro the town,
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
Until her heart's blude staind her gown.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly |
| 19 |
'Ride softly on,' says the best young man,
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
'For I think our bonny bride looks pale and wan.'
As the primrose spreads so sweetly |
| 20 |
'O lead me gently up yon hill,
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
And I'll there sit down, and make my will.'
As the primrose spreads so sweetly |
| 21 |
'O what will you leave to your father dear?'
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
'The silver-shod steed that brought me here.'
As the primrose spreads so sweetly |
| 22 |
'What will you leave to your mother dear?'
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
'My velvet pall and my silken gear.'
As the primrose spreads so sweetly |
| 23 |
'What will you leave your sister Anne?'
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
'My silken scarf and my gowden fan.'
As the primrose spreads so sweetly |
| 24 |
at will you leave to your sister Grace?'
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
My bloody cloaths to wash and dress.'
As the primrose spreads so sweetly |
| 25 |
'What will you leave to your brother John?'
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
'The gallows-tree to hang him on.'
As the primrose spreads so sweetly |
| 26 |
'What will you leave to your brother John's wife?'
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
'The wilderness to end her life.'
As the primrose spreads so sweetly |
| 27 |
This ladie fair in her grave was laid,
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
And many a mass was oer her said.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly |
| 28 |
But it would have made your heart right sair,
With a hey ho and a lillie gay
To see the bridegroom rive his haire.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly |
