1.
There were twa sisters sat in a bour,
_Binnorie, O Binnorie!_
There came a knight to be their wooer,
_By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie._
2.
He courted the eldest wi' glove and ring,
_Binnorie, O Binnorie!_
But he lo'ed the youngest aboon a' thing,
_By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie._
3.
He courted the eldest with broach and knife,
_Binnorie, O Binnorie!_
But he lo'ed the youngest aboon his life,
_By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie._
4.
The eldest she was vexed sair,
_Binnorie, O Binnorie!_
And sair envied her sister fair,
_By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie._
5.
The eldest said to the youngest ane,
_Binnorie, O Binnorie!_
'Will ye go and see our father's ships come in?'
_By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie._
6.
She's ta'en her by the lilly hand,
_Binnorie, O Binnorie!_
And led her down to the river-strand,
_By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie._
7.
The youngest stude upon a stane,
_Binnorie, O Binnorie!_
The eldest came and pushed her in,
_By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie._
8.
She took her by the middle sma',
_Binnorie, O Binnorie!_
And dashed her bonnie back to the jaw,
_By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie/_
9.
'O sister, sister, reach your hand!'
_Binnorie, O Binnorie!_
'And ye shall be heir of half my land,'
_By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie._
10.
'O sister, I'll not reach my hand,'
_Binnorie, O Binnorie!_
'And I'll be heir of all your land,'
_By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie._
11.
'Shame fa' the hand that I should take,'
_Binnorie, O Binnorie!_
'It's twin'd me and my world's make,'
_By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie._
12.
'O sister, reach me but your glove,'
_Binnorie, O Binnorie!_
'And sweet William shall be your love,'
_By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie._
13.
'Sink on, nor hope for hand or glove,'
_Binnorie, O Binnorie!_
'And sweet William shall better be my love,'
_By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie._
14.
'Your cherry cheeks and your yellow hair,'
_Binnorie, O Binnorie!_
'Garr'd me gang maiden evermair,'
_By the bonnie mill-dams o' Binnorie._
15.
Sometimes she sunk, and sometimes she swam,
_Binnorie, O Binnorie!_
Until she came to the miller's dam,
_By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie._
16.
'O father, father, draw your dam!'
_Binnorie, O Binnorie!_
'There's either a mermaid or a milk-white swan,'
_By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie._
17.
The miller hasted and drew his dam,
_Binnorie, O Binnorie!_
And there he found a drowned woman,
_By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie._
18.
You could not see her yellow hair,
_Binnorie, O Binnorie!_
For gowd and pearls that were sae rare,
_By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie._
19.
You could na see her middle sma',
_Binnorie, O Binnorie!_
Her gowden girdle was sae bra',
_By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie._
20.
An' by there came a harper fine,
_Binnorie, O Binnorie!_
That harped to the king at dine,
_By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie._
21.
When he did look that lady upon,
_Binnorie, O Binnorie!_
He sigh'd and made a heavy moan,
_By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie._
22.
He's ta'en three locks o' her yallow hair,
_Binnorie, O Binnorie!_
And wi' them strung his harp sae fair,
_By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie._
23.
The first tune he did play and sing,
_Binnorie, O Binnorie!_
Was, 'Farewell to my father the king,'
_By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie._
24.
The nextin tune that he play'd syne,
_Binnorie, O Binnorie!_
Was, 'Farewell to my mother the queen,'
_By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie._
25.
The lasten tune that he play'd then,
_Binnorie, O Binnorie!_
Was, 'Wae to my sister, fair Ellen!'
_By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie._
[Annotations:
8.3: 'jaw,' wave.
11.3: 'my world's make,' my earthly mate.]