Binorie- Mrs Jane Lobban (Aber) c.1931 Carpenter
[From James Madison Carpenter Collection, JMC/1/4/Q, p. 07736, standard text, a few stanzas missing. Miller laddie dies at burial.
R. Matteson 2018]
"Binorie" sung by Mrs Jane Lobban of Kennethmont, Aberdeenshire, Scotland about 1931.
1 There wis twa sisters wha lived in a glen,
Binorie, O an' Binorie,
The youngest was courted by a nice young man,
The bonnie miller lad o Binorie.
2 This twa sisters gaed oot for a walk
Binorie, O an' Binorie,
Twas to hear the blackbirds whistle ower the tune,
An' see the miller lad o Binorie.
3 They walked up, an' sae did they doon,
Binorie, O an' Binorie,
Bet they didna hear the birdies whistle ower the tune,
An' they didna see the miller o Binorie.
4. Then the twa sisters stood on a stane,
Binorie, O an' Binorie,
Till the elder she dang the younger in,
Tee the deep, deep dams o Binorie."
5. "O sister, O sister you'll stretch me yer han',
Binorie, O Binorie,
An' all my gold and silver will be at your command,
An' the bonnie miller lad o Binorie."
6. "It wisna for yer gold sister, I dang ye in,
Binorie, O an' Binorie,
It's because ye're sae very fair, an' I'm sae very din,
An' ye're courted by the miller o Binorie."
7. The miller's servant lassie cam oot tee the dam,
Binorie, O an' Binorie,
It was for some water to wash the miller's hand,
Twas the bonnie miller lad o Binorie.
8. "O miller, O miller, go fish in your dam,
Binorie, O an' Binorie,
For there's a drooned lady or else a white swan,
In the deep, deep dams o Binorie."
9. Weel did he ken her by her green goon o silk,
Binorie O an' Binorie,
Bet better did he ken her by her middle, 'twas sae jimp,
Twas the bonnie miller's lass o Binorie.
10. Mony wis there at her aff-claes takin',
Binorie, O an' Binorie,
But the miller laddie died at her green grave weepin';
The bonnie miller lad o Binorie.