#A.# ‘Willy’s rare and Willy’s fair,’ Thomson’s Orpheus Caledonius,
II, 110, 1733.
#B. a.# Cromek’s Select Scotish Songs, 1810, II, 196. #b.# Stenhouse,
Musical Museum, 1853, IV, 464.
#C.# ‘The Dowie Dens o Yarrow,’ Gibb MS., p. 37.
#D.# Skene MS., p. 47.
#E.# ‘Willie’s drowned in Gamery,’ Buchan’s Ballads of the North of
Scotland, I, 245.
#F.# ‘The Water o Gamery,’ Buchan’s MSS, II, 159. Dixon, Scottish
Traditional Versions of Ancient Ballads, p. 66, Percy Society, vol.
xvii.
#G.# ‘The Water o Ganrie,’ Motherwell’s MS., p. 637.
#H.# ‘The Water o Gemrie,’ Campbell MSS, II, 78.
#A# was inserted in the fourth volume of The Tea-Table Miscellany, and
stands in the edition of 1763 at p. 321, ‘Rare Willie drowned in
Yarrow,’ It is given in Herd’s Ancient and Modern Scots Songs, 1769, p.
197 (with two or three trifling changes); in Johnson’s Museum, p. 542,
No 525. #F# is epitomized in Christie’s Traditional Ballad Airs, I, 66,
“with some changes from the way the editor has heard it sung.”
The fragment in Cromek’s Select Scotish Songs, 1810, II, 196, sent by
Burns in a letter to William Tytler, 1790, belongs, as already said,
mostly with ‘The Duke of Athole’s Nurse,’ but has two stanzas of ‘Willie
drowned in Yarrow’ (#B#).
‘The Braes of Yarrow,’ Ritson’s Scotish Song, I, 154, composed upon the
story of this ballad by the Rev. John Logan (1748–88), has two of the
original lines (nearly):
They sought him east, they sought him west,
They sought him all the forest thorough.
Willie is drowned in Yarrow according to the older (southern) tradition,
#A#; also #B#, #C#. In the northern copies, #D#, #E#, #F#, with which
#G#, #H#, agree, the scene is transferred to Gamrie, on the coast of the
Moray Frith, where, as Christie remarks, “there is no water that Willie
could have been drowned in but the sea, on his way along the sands to
the old kirk.”[109] In the ballad which follows this, a western variety
of the same story, Willie is drowned in the Clyde.
#C# 2, 3, 5, 6, belong to the preceding ballad, and 4 is common to that
and this.
#A# 2 would come in better at the end of the story (as it does in #C#, a
copy of slight authority), if it might properly find a place anywhere in
the ballad. But this stanza suits only a woman who has been for some
time living with her husband. A woman on her wedding-day could have no
call to make her bed broad in her mother’s house, whether yestreen or
the morrow. I therefore conclude that #A# 2 does not belong to this
ballad.[110]
#D-H.# Rare Willie has promised to marry Meggie, #E# (also #A#, #C#,
#D#). His mother would give her the wale of all her other sons, but not
Willie; she will have him only; #D#, #E# (cf. #G# 1). The bridegroom,
with a large company, is mounted to ride for the bride; he tells his
friends to go forward, he has forgotten to ask his mother’s blessing;
#D#, #E#, #F#, #H#. He receives the blessing, #D#, #F#, #H#; her
blessing goes not with him, #G#; he gets her heavy curse, #E#; even in
#F# his mother, after giving her blessing, says that he will never see
his wedding. (The mother’s curse is the characteristic feature of the
next following ballad.) The bridal party come to the river, or burn, of
Gamrie; all the others pass the stream safely, but Willie is washed from
his saddle, #D-H#. The rest ride on to the kirk of Gamrie. The bride
asks where is the man who was to marry her, and is told that Willie is
drowned. She tears the ribbons from her hair and runs to the river,
plunges in, and finds Willie in the deepest pot, the middle, the deepest
weil. She will make her bed with him in Gamrie; both mothers shall be
alike sorry; #D-G#.
In #H#, Willie’s horse comes home with an empty saddle. His mother is
sure that her son is dead; her daughter tries in vain to persuade her
that all is well; Meggie takes her lover’s body from the river and lays
it on the grass; she will sleep with him in the same grave at Gamrie.
In #A#, #B#, the drowned body is found in the cleft of a rock, the
clifting or clintin of a craig; in #C# 4 neath a buss of brume, that
stanza belonging, as most of the copy does, to the preceding ballad; cf.
#J# 14, #K# 11 of No 214. The bride ties three links of her hair, which
is three quarters long, round Willie’s waist, and draws him out of the
water, #B# 2, #C# 5; for the hair, cf. No 214, where also it is not
advantageously used. The bride’s tearing the ribbons from her head, #D#
12, #E# 15, #F# 8, #G# 7, #H# 14, is found also in No 214, #D# 11, #I#
12, but is inappropriate there. A brother, brother John, whether the
man’s or the woman’s, tells the bad news in No 214, #A# 11, #E# 9, #I#
8, #L# 11, #N# 9, 10, as here #D# 11, #E# 14, #F# 7, #G# 6, #H# 13.
‘Annan Water,’ a ballad in which a lover is drowned on his way to visit
his mistress, is given in an appendix.
* * * * *
A
Thomson’s Orpheus Caledonius, II, 110, 1733.
1
‘Willy’s rare, and Willy’s fair,
And Willy’s wondrous bony,
And Willy heght to marry me,
Gin eer he marryd ony.
2
‘Yestreen I made my bed fu brade,
The night I’ll make it narrow,
For a’ the live-long winter’s night
I lie twin’d of my marrow.
3
‘O came you by yon water-side?
Pu’d you the rose or lilly?
Or came you by yon meadow green?
Or saw you my sweet Willy?’
4
She sought him east, she sought him west,
She sought him brade and narrow;
Sine, in the clifting of a craig,
She found him drownd in Yarrow.
* * * * *
B
#a.# Cromek’s Select Scotish Songs, 1810, II, 196; eighth and ninth
stanzas of a fragment sent William Tytler by Burns in 1790. #b.#
Stenhouse’s edition of the Musical Museum, 1853, IV, 464.
1
She sought him east, she sought him west,
She sought him braid and narrow,
Till in the clintin of a craig
She found him drownd in Yarrow.
2
She’s taen three links of her yellow hair,
That hung down lang and yellow,
And she’s tied it about sweet Willie’s waist,
An drawn him out o Yarrow.
* * * * *
C
Gibb MS., No 7, p. 37; from recitation. “Traced to Eppie Fraser,
daughter of a tramp, and unable to read, _circa_ 1840.”
1
‘Willie’s fair, an Willie’s rare,
An Willie’s wondrous bonny,
An Willie’s promised to marry me,
If eer he marry ony.’
2
‘O sister dear, I’ve dreamed a dream,
I’m afraid it’s unco sorrow;
I dreamed I was pu’in the heather green,
In the dowie dens o Yarrow.’
3
‘O sister dear, I’ll read your dream,
I’m afraid it will be sorrow;
Ye’ll get a letter ere it’s een
Your lover’s drowned in Yarrow.’
4
She socht him up, she socht him doun,
In mickle dule an sorrow;
She found him neath a buss o brume,
In the dowie dens o Yarrow.
5
Her hair it was three quarters lang,
Its colour it was yallow;
She tied it to his middle sma,
An pu’ed him oot o Yarrow.
6
‘My bed it was made wide yestreen,
The nicht it sall be narrow;
There’s neer a man lie by my side
Since Willie’s drowned in Yarrow.’
* * * * *
D
Skene MS., p. 47; taken down from recitation in the north of
Scotland, 1802–3.
1
‘Willie’s fair, and Willie’s rare,
An he is wondrous bonnie,
An Willie has promist to marry me,
Gin ever he marry ony.’
2
‘Ye’s get Jammie, or ye’s [get] Johnnie,
Or ye’s get bonny Peter;
Ye’s get the wale o a’ my sons,
But leave me Willie the writer.’
3
‘I winna hae Jamie, I winna hae Johnie,
I winna hae bonny Peter;
I winna hae ony o a’ your sons,
An I get na Willie the writer.’
4
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
There was threescore and ten brisk young men
Was boun to briddal-stool wi him:
5
‘Ride on, ride on, my merry men a’,
I forgot something behind me;
I forgat my mither’s blessing,
To hae to bride-stool wi me.’
6
‘God’s blessin an mine gae wi ye, Willie,
God’s blessing an mine gae wi ye;
For ye’re nae ane hour but bare nineteen,
Fan ye’re gauin to meet your Meggie.’
7
They rode on, and farther on,
Till they came to the water of Gamrie,
An they a’ wan safe through,
Unless it was sweet Willie.
8
The first ae step that Willie’s horse steppit,
He steppit to the bridle;
The next ae step that Willie’s horse steppit,
Toom grew Willie’s saddle.
9
They rod on, an farther on,
Till they came to the kirk of Gamrie.
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
10
Out spak the bonny bride,
. . . . . . .
‘Whar is the man that’s to gie me his han
This day at the kirk of Gamrie?’
11
Out spak his brother John,
An O bat he was sorrie!
‘It fears me much, my bonny bride,
He sleeps oure soun in Gamerie.’
12
The ribbons that were on her haír—
An they were thick and monny—
She rive them a’, let them down fa,
An is on[to] the water o Gamerie.
13
She sought it up, she sought it down,
She sought it braid and narrow;
An in the deepest pot o Gamerie,
There she got sweet Willie.
14
She has kissd his comely mouth,
As she had done before [O]:
‘Baith our mithers sall be alike sorry,
For we’s baith sleep in Gamery.’
* * * * *
E
Buchan’s Ballads of the North of Scotland, #I#, 245.
1
‘O Willie is fair, and Willie is rare,
And Willie is wondrous bonny,
And Willie says he’ll marry me,
Gin ever he marry ony.’
2
‘O ye’se get James, or ye’se get George,
Or ye’s get bonny Johnnie;
Ye’se get the flower o a’ my sons,
Gin ye’ll forsake my Willie.’
3
‘O what care I for James or George,
Or yet for bonny Peter?
I dinna value their love a leek,
An I getna Willie the writer.
4
‘O Willie has a bonny hand,
And dear but it is bonny!’
‘He has nae mair for a’ his land;
What woud ye do wi Willie?’
5
‘O Willie has a bonny face,
And dear but it is bonny!’
‘But Willie has nae other grace;
What woud ye do wi Willie?’
6
‘Willie’s fair, and Willie’s rare,
And Willie’s wondrous bonny;
There’s nane wi him that can compare,
I love him best of ony.’
7
On Wednesday, that fatal day,
The people were convening;
Besides all this, threescore and ten,
To gang to the bride-steel wi him.
8
‘Ride on, ride on, my merry men a’,
I’ve forgot something behind me;
I’ve forgot to get my mother’s blessing,
To gae to the bride-steel wi me.’
9
‘Your Peggy she’s but bare fifteen,
And ye are scarcely twenty;
The water o Gamery is wide and braid;
My heavy curse gang wi thee!’
10
Then they rode on, and further on,
Till they came on to Gamery;
The wind was loud, the stream was proud,
And wi the stream gaed Willie.
11
Then they rode on, and further on,
Till they came to the kirk o Gamery;
And every one on high horse sat,
But Willie’s horse rade toomly.
12
When they were settled at that place,
The people fell a mourning,
And a council held amo them a’,
But sair, sair wept Kinmundy.
13
Then out it speaks the bride hersell,
Says, What means a’ this mourning?
Where is the man amo them a’
That shoud gie me fair wedding?
14
Then out it speaks his brother John,
Says, Meg, I’ll tell you plainly;
The stream was strong, the clerk rade wrong,
And Willie’s drownd in Gamery.
15
She put her hand up to her head,
Where were the ribbons many;
She rave them a’, let them down fa’,
And straightway ran to Gamery.
16
She sought it up, she sought it down,
Till she was wet and weary;
And in the middle part o it,
There she got her deary.
17
Then she stroakd back his yellow hair,
And kissd his mou sae comely:
‘My mother’s heart’s be as wae as thine!
We’se baith asleep in the water o Gamery.’
* * * * *
F
Buchan MSS, II, 159.
1
Whan Willie was in his saddle set,
And all his merry men wi him,
‘Stay still, stay still, my merry men all,
I’ve forgot something behind me.
2
‘Gie me God’s blessing an yours, mither,
To hae me on to Gamery;
Gie me God’s blessing an yours, mither,
To gae to the bride-stool wi me.’
3
‘I’ll gie ye God’s blessing an mine, Willie,
To hae you on to Gamery;
Ye’s hae God’s blessing an mine, Willie,
To gae to the bride-stool wi you.
4
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
‘But Gamery it is wide and deep,
An ye’ll never see your wedding;’
5
Some rede back, an some rede fore,
An some rede on to Gamery;
The bonniest knight’s saddle among them all
Stood teem in the Water o Gamery.
6
Out it spake the bride hersell,
Says, What makes all this riding?
Where is the knight amongst you all
Aught me this day for wedding?
7
Out it spake the bridegroom’s brother,
Says, Margaret, I’ll tell you plainly;
The knight ye should hae been wedded on
Is drownd in the Water o Gamery.
8
She’s torn the ribbons aff her head—
They were baith thick an mony—
She kilted up her green claithing,
And she has passed the Gamery.
9
She’s plunged in, so did she down,
That was baith black an jumly,
And in the middle o that water
She found her ain sweet Willie.
10
She’s taen him in her arms twa
And gied him kisses many:
‘My mother’s be as wae as thine!
We’ll baith lie in the Water o Gamery.’
* * * * *
G
Motherwell’s MS., p. 637; from the recitation of the wife of James
Baird, forester at Dalrymple.
1
‘O stay at hame, my ain son Willie,
And let your bride tak Johnie!
O stay at hame, my ain son Willie!
For my blessing gaes not wi thee.’
2
‘I canna stay, nor I winna stay,
And let my bride tak Johnie;
I canna stay, nor I winna stay,
Though your blessing gaes na wi me.
3
‘I have a steed in my stable
That cost me monie a pennie,
And on that steed I winna dread
To ride the water o Genrie.’
4
The firsten step that Willie stept,
He steppit to the bellie;
The wind blew loud, the stream ran proud,
And awa wi it gaed Willie.
5
And when the bride gaed to the kirk,
Into the kirk o Ganrie,
She cuist her ee among them a’,
But she sawna her love Willie.
6
Out and spak her auld brither,
Saying, Peggie, I will tell thee;
The man ye should been married till
Lyes in the water o Genrie.
7
She tore the ribbons aff her head,
That were baith rich and manie,
And she has kiltit up her coat,
And ran to the water o Ganrie.
8
She’s sought him up, sae did she doun,
Thro a’ the water o Ganrie;
In the deepest weil in a’ the burn,
Oh, there she fand her Willie!
9
She has taen him in her arms twa,
Sae fondly as she kisst him!
Said, ‘My mither sall be wae as thine,’
And she’s lain doun aside him.
* * * * *
H
Campbell MSS, II, 78.
1
They were saddled a’, they were briddled a’,
Bridegroom and a’ was ready;
‘Stop,’ says he, ‘my nobles a’,
For I’ve left something behind me.
2
‘It is your blessing, mother dear,
To bound [to] the bride-styl with me:’
‘God’s blessing now, my son,’ says she,
‘And mine and a’ gang wi ye!
3
‘For ye are scarce nineteen years of age
When ye met in wi bonny Maggie,
And I’m sure, my dear, she’ll welcome you
This day in the kirk o Gemrie.’
4
It’s they have ridden up, it’s they have ridden down,
And joy was in their gallant company;
It’s they have ridden up, and they have ridden down,
Till they came to the water o Gemrie.
5
When they came to the water, it was flooded;
In the middle Sweet William he fell;
The spray brook over his horse’s mane,
And the wind sang his funeral knell.
6
‘O much is the pity! O much is the pity!’
Cried that joyful company;
‘O much is the pity! O much is the pity!’
But alas! now are woeful and wae.
7
Hame and hame came his stead,
And ran to its ain stable;
They’ve gien it corn and hay to eat,
As much as it was able.
8
His mother she was a waefu woman,
As dung as woman could be;
‘My son,’ says she, ‘is either hurt or slain,
Or drowned in the waters of Gemrie.’
9
It’s up and spak her daughter Ann:
‘What needs be a’ this mourning?
He’s lighted at yon bonny kirk-style,
And his steed has run away from him.’
10
‘O had yer tongue, my daughter Ann,
Nor scold na me about mourning;
Hadna my son there men enew
To hae taken his steed from him?’
11
They’ve ridden up, they’ve ridden down,
Till they came to the kirk o Gemrie;
There they saw his winsome bride,
Alone at the kirk-style standing.
12
‘Where away is the man,’ says she,
‘That promised me fair wedding?
This day he vowd to meet me here,
But O he’s lang o coming!’
13
Up and spak his brother John,
Says, ‘Meg, I’ll tell ye plainly;
The stream was strang, and we rade wrang,
And he’s drownd in the water o Gemrie.’
14
She’s torn the ribons frae her hair,
That were baith thick and many;
She’s torn them a’, lettin them fa’,
And she’s away to the waters o Gemrie.
15
She[’s] sought him up, she’s sought him down,
Until that she’s gotten his body,
And she’s laid it on the green, green grass,
And flung her mantle oer him.
16
‘O Willie was red, but O now he’s white!
And Willie was wondrous bonny,
And Willie he said he’d marry me,
Gin ere he married oney.
17
‘He was red, he was white, he was my delight,
And aye, aye I thought him bonny;
But now since Willie has dy’d for me,
I will sleep wi him in the same grave at Gemrie.’
* * * * *
#B. b.#
“The editor has often heard the following additional stanza [_the
second_], though it is omitted by Thomson.”
2^1. links o her gowden locks.
2^3. She’s tied them about.
#D.#
_Not divided into stanzas in the MS._
#E.#
_Variations in Christie_, I, 66:
2^{1–3}. ye’ll.
6^1. O Willie’s.
7^3. And there were mair than threescore and ten.
14^4. at Gamery.
15^2. Where she had ribbons.
15^3. And tore them a’ and let.
15^4. And syne she ran.
16^4. ’Twas there.
17^1. She straiked back.
17^4. We’ll baith sleep.
#G.#
6^1. _Originally_ But out.
#H.#
2^2. bound the bridgestyle.