Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 277,
from Marjory Johnston, servant to W. Parker,
manufacturer, Paisley.
| 1 |
* * * *
'Turn back, turn back, O Burd Alone,
For the water's both broad and long:'
First she went into the shoulders,
And sine unto the chin. |
| 2 |
'How far is it to your hall, Lord John?
How far is it? I pray of thee:'
'The nearest way unto my hall
Is thirty miles and three. |
| 3 |
'Turn back, turn back, O Burd Alone,
Ye'll sink before ye win owre:'
'I am too big with bairn,' she says,
'To sink or I win owre.' |
| 4 |
'Turn back, turn back, O Burd Alone,
Turn back, I pray of thee;
For I've got a wife and seven bairns,
I like far better than thee.' |
| 5 |
And then spak a wild parrot,
Sat high upon the tree:
'Gang on, gang on, O Burd Alone,
[He likes nane better nor thee.] |
| 6 |
'For Lord John has neither wife nor bairns,
He likes better than thee,
And the nearest way to Lord John's hall
Is only short miles three.' |
| 7 |
When she was come to Lord John's hall,
Lords, knights and ladies braw
Was there to welcome them hame;
But the bravest in the ha,
She waited at Lord John's back,
Serving the tables a'. |
| 8 |
When she was laid into her bed,
Amang the servants a' ilk ane,
The mother heard a babie greet,
And a lady make a heavy maen. |
| 9 |
'Rise up, rise up, Lord John,' she said,
'Bind on thy hose and shoon;
Thow might hae got some other lady
Then a lady big wi bairn.' |
| 10 |
Lord John awa to the hay-loft,
Where his lady lay;
'O rise, O rise, my love,' he says,
'O rise and let me in;
It's I have got no loves without,
But I've got one within.' |
| 11 |
'I ask three favours of you, Lord John,
I ask three favours of thee;
I ask a bottle of your sma, sma beer,
For your old son and me.' |
| 12 |
'O rise, O rise, my love,' he says,
'O rise and let me in;
My wine and gin is at your command,
And that of my old son.' |
| 13 |
'The next favour I ask of you, Lord John,
The next favour I ask of thee,
Is the meanest room in all your house,
For your young son and me. |
| 14 |
'The next favour I ask of you, Lord John,
The next favour I ask of thee,
Is the meanest maid in a' your house,
To wait on your yong son and me.' |
| 15 |
'O rise, O rise, my love,' he says,
'O rise and let me in;
For thy bridal and thy banquet day
Shall both be held in ane.' |
