Ed de Moel

Child Ballads - Lyrics

Child 17
Hind Horn
Version C

  1. Motherwell's Note-Book, p. 42: from Agnes Lyle.
  2. Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 413: from the singing of Agnes Lyle, Kilbarchan, August 24, 1825.

Narrative

1   Young Hyn Horn's to the king's court gone,
      Hoch hey and an ney O
He's fallen in love with his little daughter Jean.
      Let my love alone, I pray you
2   He's bocht to her a little gown,
      Hoch hey and an ney O
With seven broad flowers spread it along.
      Let my love alone, I pray you
3   She's given to him a gay gold ring.
      Hoch hey and an ney O
The posie upon it was richt plain.
      Let my love alone, I pray you
4   'When you see it losing its comely hue,
      Hoch hey and an ney O
So will I my love to you.'
      Let my love alone, I pray you
5   Then within a little wee,
      Hoch hey and an ney O
Hyn Horn left land and went to sea.
      Let my love alone, I pray you
6   When he lookt his ring upon,
      Hoch hey and an ney O
He saw it growing pale and wan.
      Let my love alone, I pray you
7   Then within a little [wee] again,
      Hoch hey and an ney O
Hyn Horn left sea and came to the land.
      Let my love alone, I pray you
8   As he was riding along the way,
      Hoch hey and an ney O
There he met with a jovial beggar.
      Let my love alone, I pray you
9   'What news, what news, old man?' he did say:
      Hoch hey and an ney O
'This is the king's young dochter's wedding day.'
      Let my love alone, I pray you
10   'If this be true you tell to me,
      Hoch hey and an ney O
You must niffer clothes with me.
      Let my love alone, I pray you
11   'You'll gie me your cloutit coat,
      Hoch hey and an ney O
I'll gie you my fine velvet coat.
      Let my love alone, I pray you
12   'You'll gie me your cloutit pock,
      Hoch hey and an ney O
I'll gie you my purse; it'll be no joke.'
      Let my love alone, I pray you
13   'Perhaps there['s] nothing in it, not one bawbee;'
      Hoch hey and an ney O
'Yes, there's gold and silver both,' said he.
      Let my love alone, I pray you
14   'You'll gie me your bags of bread,
      Hoch hey and an ney O
And I'll gie you my milk-white steed.'
      Let my love alone, I pray you
15   When they had niffered all, he said,
      Hoch hey and an ney O
'You maun learn me how I'll beg.'
      Let my love alone, I pray you
16   'When you come before the gate,
      Hoch hey and an ney O
You'll ask for a drink for the highman's sake.'
      Let my love alone, I pray you
17   When that he came before the gate,
      Hoch hey and an ney O
He calld for a drink for the highman's sake.
      Let my love alone, I pray you
18   The bride cam tripping down the stair,
      Hoch hey and an ney O
To see whaten a bold beggar was there.
      Let my love alone, I pray you
19   She gave him a drink with her own hand;
      Hoch hey and an ney O
He loot the ring drop in the can.
      Let my love alone, I pray you
20   'Got ye this by sea or land?
      Hoch hey and an ney O
Or took ye't aff a dead man's hand?'
      Let my love alone, I pray you
21   'I got na it by sea nor land,
      Hoch hey and an ney O
But I got it aff your own hand.'
      Let my love alone, I pray you
22   The bridegroom cam tripping down the stair,
      Hoch hey and an ney O
But there was neither bride nor beggar there.
      Let my love alone, I pray you
23   Her ain bridegroom had her first wed,
      Hoch hey and an ney O
But Young Hyn Horn had her first to bed.
      Let my love alone, I pray you

This page most recently updated on 05-Mar-2011, 10:57:01.
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