Binnorie- Robert Alexander (Aber) c.1907 Greig F
[From Greig-Duncan Folk Song Collection, Lyle and Shuldham-Shaw, version F. This is associated with the standard Scottish text, Child M from Aberdeenshire.
R. Matteson 2018]
"Binorie" sung by Robert Alexander of Bourtie, Aberdeenshire, c. 1907, collected by Duncan.
1. There was twa young girlies lived in booer,
Binnorie O Binnorie,
An a bonny miller laddie a-courtin' them them did come,
Fae the bonny milldams o Binnorie O.
2. He's courted the eldest one with jewels and rings,
Binnorie O Binnorie,
But he courted the youngest with far finer things,
She's his ain dearest lassie o Binnorie O.
3. "O sister, O sister will you tak a walk,
Binnorie O Binnorie,
You'll hear the little blackbird whistlin' ower its tune,
An' you'll see the bonny miller o' Binnorie O.
4. They walk-ed up and they walk-ed doon,
Binnorie O Binnorie,
They've heard the blackbirdie whistlin ower its tune,
But they hinna seen the miller o Binnorie O.
5 They walk-ed up sae they walk-ed doon,
Binnorie O Binnorie,
Till the elder she dang teh younger ane in,
To the milldams o Binnorie.
6. O sister, O sister, will ye tak my han'
Binnorie O Binnorie,
Ye'll has the half o my siller an the third pairt o my lan',
An' ye's be the miller's wife o Bennorie[1] O.
7. It wasna for that I dang you in,
Binnorie O Binnorie,
Twas because you was so very fair and I so very dim (din),
Ye can drown the milldams o Bennorie O.
8. The miller's servant girlie went oot to the dam,
Binnorie O Binnorie,
It was for some water to wash the miller's hands,
Frae the milldams o Bennorie O.
9 O miller, O miller, there's fish in your dam
Binnorie O Bennorie,
There is either a drowned lady or your milk-white swan,
To the milldams o Binnorie.
10. He fish-ed up and he fish-ed doon
Binnorie O Bennorie,
An he hae ta'en her oot an laid her on a stone,
By the milldams o Bennorie.
11. There was nane o them a ken't her by her yellow hair,
Binnorie O Bennorie,
But the bonnie miller laddie ken't her by the rings he gae her,
She was his ane dearest lassie o Bennorie O.
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1. randomly the spelling has changed,