Ed de Moel

Child Ballads - Lyrics

Child 15
Leesom Brand
Version B

Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 365. From the recitation of Agnes Lyle, Kilbarehan.

Narrative

1   'There is a feast in your father's house,
      The broom blooms bonnie and so is it fair
It becomes you and me to be very douce.
      And we'll never gang up to the broom nae mair
2   'You will go to yon hill so hie;
      The broom blooms bonnie and so is it fair
Take your bow and your arrow wi thee.'
      And we'll never gang up to the broom nae mair
3   He's tane his lady on his back,
      The broom blooms bonnie and so is it fair
And his auld son in his coat lap.
      And we'll never gang up to the broom nae mair
4   'When ye hear me give a cry,
      The broom blooms bonnie and so is it fair
Ye'll shoot your bow and let me lye.
      And we'll never gang up to the broom nae mair
5   'When ye see my lying still,
      The broom blooms bonnie and so is it fair
Throw away your bow and come running me till.'
      And we'll never gang up to the broom nae mair
6   When he heard her gie the cry,
      The broom blooms bonnie and so is it fair
He shot his bow and he let her lye.
      And we'll never gang up to the broom nae mair
7   When he saw she was lying still,
      The broom blooms bonnie and so is it fair
He threw away his bow and came running her till.
      And we'll never gang up to the broom nae mair
8   It was nae wonder his heart was sad
      The broom blooms bonnie and so is it fair
When he shot his auld son at her head.
      And we'll never gang up to the broom nae mair
9   houkit a grave, long, large and wide,
      The broom blooms bonnie and so is it fair
He buried his auld son doun by her side.
      And we'll never gang up to the broom nae mair
10   It was nae wonder his heart was sair
      The broom blooms bonnie and so is it fair
When he shooled the mools in her yellow hair.
      And we'll never gang up to the broom nae mair
11   'Oh,' said his father, 'Son, but thou'rt sad!
      The broom blooms bonnie and so is it fair
At our braw meeting you micht be glad.'
      And we'll never gang up to the broom nae mair
12   'Oh,' said he, 'Father, I've lost my knife
      The broom blooms bonnie and so is it fair
I loved as dear almost as my own life.
      And we'll never gang up to the broom nae mair
13   'But I have lost a far better thing,
      The broom blooms bonnie and so is it fair
I lost the sheath that the knife was in.'
      And we'll never gang up to the broom nae mair
14   'Hold thy tongue, and mak nae din;
      The broom blooms bonnie and so is it fair
I'll buy thee a sheath and a knife therein.'
      And we'll never gang up to the broom nae mair
15   'A' the ships eer sailed the sea
      The broom blooms bonnie and so is it fair
Neer'll bring such a sheath and a knife to me.
      And we'll never gang up to the broom nae mair
16   'A' the smiths that lives on land
      The broom blooms bonnie and so is it fair
Will neer bring such a sheath and knife to my hand.'
      And we'll never gang up to the broom nae mair

This page most recently updated on 05-Mar-2011, 10:54:17.
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