Binnorie, O Binnorie- old Buchan singer (Aber) pre-1842, Christie, Vol. 1
[From Traditional Ballad Airs: Volume 1, edited by William Christie, 1876. His notes follow. The text is an arrangement taken from other printed sources.
R. Matteson 2018]
This air was arranged by the Editor‘s father from the singing of a person in Buchan who died in 1842 at the age of 80 years. Different sets of its first strain have been given, viz. in Johnson‘s Museum ( 474.0s1 Ed); also in Gow‘s “Repositnry." &c. Part 21Ld p. 3; and by R. A. Smith IV. 6. and "I. 72. to “The bonnie Milldams o’ Balgonie!‘ The air is here given to “Binnorie" instead of to “The Bonny Bow o’ London!" The Ballad is given by Sir W Scott, and Motherwell. The same story is found in the Ballads of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, &c.
There were two sisters liv'd in a bower,
Binnörie, O Binnörie!
There came a knight to be their wooer,
By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnörie.
He courted the eldest with glove and ring,
Binnörie, O Binnörie!
But he lov-ed the youngest aboon a thing,
By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnörie.
etc.