Ed de Moel

Child Ballads - Lyrics

Child 17
Hind Horn
Version A

Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 106. From Mrs. King, Kilbarchan.

Narrative

1   In Scotland there was a babie born,
      Lill lal, etc.
And his name it was called young Hind Horn.
      With a fal lal, etc.
2   He sent a letter to our king
      Lill lal, etc.
That he was in love with his daughter Jean.
      With a fal lal, etc.
3   He's gien to her a silver wand,
      Lill lal, etc.
With seven living lavrocks sitting thereon.
      With a fal lal, etc.
4   She's gien to him a diamond ring,
      Lill lal, etc.
With seven bright diamonds set therein.
      With a fal lal, etc.
5   'When this ring grows pale and wan,
      Lill lal, etc.
You may know by it my love is gane.'
      With a fal lal, etc.
6   One day as he looked his ring upon,
      Lill lal, etc.
He saw the diamonds pale and wan.
      With a fal lal, etc.
7   He left the sea and came to land,
      Lill lal, etc.
And the first that he met was an old beggar man.
      With a fal lal, etc.
8   'What news, what news?' said young Hind Horn;
      Lill lal, etc.
'No news, no news,' said the old beggar man.
      With a fal lal, etc.
9   'No news,' said the beggar, 'No news at a',
      Lill lal, etc.
But there is a wedding in the king's ha.
      With a fal lal, etc.
10   'But there is a wedding in the king's ha,
      Lill lal, etc.
That has halden these forty days and twa.'
      With a fal lal, etc.
11   'Will ye lend me your begging coat?
      Lill lal, etc.
And I'll lend you my scarlet cloak.
      With a fal lal, etc.
12   'Will you lend me your beggar's rung?
      Lill lal, etc.
And I'll gie you my steed to ride upon.
      With a fal lal, etc.
13   'Will you lend me your wig o hair,
      Lill lal, etc.
To cover mine, because it is fair?'
      With a fal lal, etc.
14   The auld beggar man was bound for the mill,
      Lill lal, etc.
But young Hind Horn for the king's hall.
      With a fal lal, etc.
15   The auld beggar man was bound for to ride,
      Lill lal, etc.
But young Hind Horn was bound for the bride.
      With a fal lal, etc.
16   When he came to the king's gate,
      Lill lal, etc.
He sought a drink for Hind Horn's sake.
      With a fal lal, etc.
17   The bride came down with a glass of wine,
      Lill lal, etc.
When he drank out the glass, and dropt in the ring.
      With a fal lal, etc.
18   'O got ye this by sea or land?
      Lill lal, etc.
Or got ye it off a dead man's hand?'
      With a fal lal, etc.
19   'I got not it by sea, I got it by land,
      Lill lal, etc.
And I got it, madam, out of your own hand.'
      With a fal lal, etc.
20   'O I'll cast off my gowns of brown,
      Lill lal, etc.
And beg wi you frae town to town.
      With a fal lal, etc.
21   'O I'll cast off my gowns of red,
      Lill lal, etc.
And I'll beg wi you to win my bread.'
      With a fal lal, etc.
22   'Ye needna cast off your gowns of brown,
      Lill lal, etc.
For I'll make you lady o many a town.
      With a fal lal, etc.
23   'Ye needna cast off your gowns of red,
      Lill lal, etc.
It's only a sham, the begging o my bread.'
      With a fal lal, etc.
24   The bridegroom he had wedded the bride,
      Lill lal, etc.
But young Hind Horn he took her to bed.
      With a fal lal, etc.

This page most recently updated on 05-Mar-2011, 10:56:49.
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