| 1 |
There were five ladies lived in a bouer,
Lived in a bouer at Cumbernaldie;
The fairest and youngest o them a'
Has fa'n in love wi her footman-laddie. |
| 2 |
'Here is a letter to you, ladye,
Here is a letter to you, ladye;
The Earl o Hume has written doun
That he will be your footman-laddie.' |
| 3 |
'I want nane o his service, Ritchie,
I want nane o his service, Ritchie;
For I've made a vow, and I'll keep it true,
That I'll wed nane but thee, Ritchie.' |
| 4 |
'O that canna be, ladye,
O that canna be, ladye;
For I've neither house nor land,
Nor ought suiting ye, ladye.' |
| 5 |
'Livd ye on yonder hill, Ritchie,
Livd ye on yonder hill, Ritchie,
There's my hand, I'm at your command,
Marry me whan ye will, Ritchie!' |
| 6 |
This boy he went to his bed,
It was a' to try this fair ladye;
But she went up the stair to him:
'Ye maun leave your comrades, Ritchie. |
| 7 |
'To the Borders we maun gang, Ritchie,
To the Borders we maun gang, Ritchie,
For an my auld father he get word,
It's you he will cause hang, Ritchie.' |
| 8 |
'To the Borders we'll na gang, ladye,
To the Borders we'll na gang, ladye;
For altho your auld father got word,
It's me he dare na hang, ladye.' |
| 9 |
As they passed by her mither's bouer,
O but her sisters they were sorry!
They bade her tak aff the robes o silk,
And muck the byres wi Ritchie Storry. |
| 10 |
Whan they cam to yon hie hill,
Dear vow, but the lady she was sorry!
She looked oure her left showther —
'O an I war in bonny Cumbernaldie!' |
| 11 |
'O are na ye sorry now, ladye,
O are na ye sorry now, ladye,
For to forsake the Earl o Hume,
And follow me, your footman-laddie?' |
| 12 |
'How could I be sorry, Ritchie,
How could I be sorry, Ritchie?
Such a gudely man as you,
And the lot that lies afore me, Ritchie.' |
| 13 |
As they rode up through Edinburgh toun,
Her gowd watch hang doun sae gaudie;
Monie a lord made her a bow,
But nane o them thoucht she was Ritchie's ladye. |
| 14 |
Whan they cam to Ritchie's yetts,
Dear vow, but the music playd bonnie!
There were four-and-twenty gay ladies
To welcome hame Richard Storry's ladye. |
| 15 |
He called for a priest wi speed,
A priest wi speed was soon ready,
And she was na married to the Earl of Hume,
But she blesses the day she got Richard Storry. |
| 16 |
A coach and six they did prepare,
A coach and six they did mak ready,
A coach and six they did prepare,
And she blesses the day made her Ritchie's lady. |
