Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 385;
Motherwell's Minstrelsy, p. 327.
From the recitation of Mrs. Rule, Paisley, August 16, 1825.
| 1 |
'Learn to mak your bed, Annie,
And learn to lie your lane,
For I maun owre the salt seas gang,
A brisk bride to bring hame. |
| 2 |
'Bind up, bind up your yellow hair,
And tye it in your neck,
And see you look as maiden-like
As the first day that we met.' |
| 3 |
'O how can I look maiden-like,
When a maid I'll never be;
When seven brave sons I've born to thee,
And the eighth is in my bodie? |
| 4 |
'The eldest of your sons, my lord,
Wi red gold shines his weed;
The second of your sons, my lord,
Rides on a milk-white steed. |
| 5 |
'And the third of your sons, my lord,
He draws your beer and wine,
And the fourth of your sons, my lord,
Can serve you when you dine. |
| 6 |
'And the fift of your sons, my lord,
He can both read and write,
And the sixth of your sons, my lord,
Can do it maist perfyte. |
| 7 |
'And the sevent of your sons, my lord,
Sits on the nurse's knee;
And how can I look maiden-like,
When a maid I'll never be? |
| 8 |
'But wha will bake your wedding bread,
And brew your bridal ale?
Or wha will welcome your brisk bride,
That you bring owre the dale?' |
| 9 |
'I'll put cooks in my kitchen,
And stewards in my hall,
And I'll have bakers for my bread,
And brewers for my ale;
But you're to welcome my brisk bride,
That I bring owre the dale.' |
| 10 |
He set his fut into his ship,
And his cock-boat on the main;
He swore it would be year and day
Or he returned again. |
| 11 |
When year and day was past and gane,
Fair Annie she thocht lang,
And she is up to her bower-head,
To behold both sea and land. |
| 12 |
'Come up, come up, my eldest son,
And see now what you see;
O yonder comes your father dear,
And your stepmother-to-be.' |
| 13 |
'Cast off your gown of black, mother,
Put on your gown of brown,
And I'll put off my mourning weeds,
And we'll welcome him home.' |
| 14 |
She's taken wine into her hand,
And she has taken bread,
And she is down to the water-side
To welcome them indeed. |
| 15 |
'You're welcome, my lord, you're welcome, my lord,
You're welcome home to me;
So is every lord and gentleman
That is in your companie. |
| 16 |
'You're welcome, my lady, you're welcome, my lady,
You're welcome home to me;
So is every lady and gentleman
That's in your companye.' |
| 17 |
'I thank you, my girl, I thank you, my girl,
I thank you heartilie;
If I live seven years about this house,
Rewarded you shall be.' |
| 18 |
She served them up, she served them down,
With the wheat bread and the wine;
By aye she drank the cold water,
To keep her colour fine. |
| 19 |
She servd them up, she servd them down,
With the wheat bread and the beer;
By aye she drank the cauld water,
To keep her colour clear. |
| 20 |
When bells were rung and mass was sung,
And all were boune for rest,
Fair Annie laid her sons in bed,
And a sorrowful woman she was. |
| 21 |
'Will I go to the salt, salt seas,
And see the fishes swim?
Or will I go to the gay green-wood,
And hear the small birds sing?' |
| 22 |
Out and spoke an aged man,
That stood behind the door:
'Ye will not go to the salt, salt seas,
To see the fishes swim;
Nor will ye go to the gay green-wood,
To hear the small birds sing. |
| 23 |
'But ye'll take a harp, into your hand,
Go to the chamber door,
And aye ye'll harp, and aye ye'll murn,
With the salt tears falling oer.' |
| 24 |
She's tane a harp into her hand,
Went to their chamber door,
And aye she harpd, and aye she murnd,
With the salt tears falling oer. |
| 25 |
Out and spak the brisk young bride, I
n bride-bed where she lay:
'I think I hear my sister Annie,
And I wish weel it may;
For a Scotish lord staw her awa,
And an ill death may he die! |
| 26 |
'Wha was your father, my girl,' she says,
'Or wha was your mother?
Or had you ever a sister dear,
Or had you ever a brother?' |
| 27 |
'King Henry was my father dear,
Queen Easter was my mother,
Prince Henry was my brother dear,
And Fanny Flower my sister.' |
| 28 |
'If King Henry was your father dear,
And Queen Easter was your mother,
And Prince Henry was your brother dear,
Then surely I'm your sister. |
| 29 |
'Come to your bed, my sister dear,
It neer was wrangd for me,
But an ae kiss of his merry mouth,
As we cam owre the sea.' |
| 30 |
'Awa, awa, ye forenoon bride,
Awa, awa frae me!
I wudna hear my Annie greet,
For a' the gold I got wi thee.' |
| 31 |
'There was five ships of gay red gold
Came owre the seas with me;
It's twa o them will take me hame,
And three I'll leave wi thee. |
| 32 |
'Seven ships o white money
Came owre the seas wi me;
Five o them I'll leave wi thee,
And twa'll tak me hame,
And my mother will mak my portion up,
When I return again.' |
