Binnorie- Annie Shirer (Aber) c.1907 Greig R
[From Greig-Duncan Folk Song Collection, Lyle and Shuldham-Shaw, p.76-77. Similar to Child M. Has miller laddie dying at her grave making.
R. Matteson 2018]
"Binnorie" as sung by Annie Shirer of Kininmouth, c. 1907.
1 There wis twa sisters lived in yonder haugh[1],
Binnorie, O and Binnorie,
And they hid but aye lad atween then ava,
He wis the bonnie miller lad o' Binnorie.
2 The eldest to the youngest did say
Will ye go to the brooms, o' Binnorie, O,
We'll maybe hear the blackbird whistle o'er his sang,
And ye'll maybe see your bonnie miller laddie O.
3. They hadna been but an hour or twa
At the brooms o' Binnorie O
When they heard the blackbird whistle o'er his sang,
But they ne'er saw the bonnie miller laddie O.
4. The eldest to the youngest did say,
Will ye gang to the dams o Binnorie O,
We'll maybe see our father's boat comin' tae dry lan',
And you'll maybe see your bonnie miller laddie O.
5. They hadna been at the dam an hour or twa,
Binnorie, O and Binnorie,
They saw their father's boat comin' tae dry lan',
But they never saw the bonnie miller laddie O.
6. The eldest dang the youngest ane in.
Binnorie, O and Binnorie,
She swam up and she swan doon,
In the bonnie milldam o Binorie O.
7. "O sister, O sister, will ye reach me your han',
Binnorie, O and Binnorie,
And ye'll be the heir o'er a' my lan',
And maybe get the bonnie miller laddie O."
8. "It wisna for that that I dang you in,
Binnorie, O and Binnorie,
It's because you're fair, and I am din,
That ye'll droon in the dams o' Binorie, O."
9. "O sister, O sister, will ye reach me your glove,
Binnorie, O and Binnorie,
And ye'll be the heir o'er my true love,
And I'll gie you the bonnie miller laddie O."
10. "It wisna for that that I dang you in,
Binnorie, O and Binnorie,
It's because you're fair, and I am din,
That ye'll droon in the dams o' Binorie, O."
11. The miller's daughter for water cam',
Binnorie, O and Binnorie,
She saw a white fish, or else a white swan,
Swim in the milldams o Binorie.
12. "O father, O father, go fish in your dam,
Binnorie, O and Binnorie,
There swims a white fish or else a swan,
In the bonnie milldams o Binnorie, O."
13. The father gaed oot wi' his rod and his gun,
Binnorie, O and Binnorie,
But instead o a swan a fair maid swam,
In the bonnie mill dam o Binnorie O."
14. There was nane o them kent her by the colour o her hair,
Binnorie O and Binnorie,
But her ane lad kent by the ring on her han' that he gaed her,
She wis the bonnie miller's lass o Binorie O.
15. There wis mony ane was cam' to her oot takin',
Binnorie, O and Binnorie,
And her ain lad died at her green grave makin';
In the bonnie kirkyard o Binnorie O.
1. flat piece of land beside a stream