Binnorie, O Binnorie- Robert Ford 1901 (melody 1830)
[From Vagabond Songs and Ballads of Scotland: Second Series; Volume 2 edited by Robert Ford 1901 (p.190-194). His notes and melody follow. The melody was collected around 1830 by Thomas Lugton (see also Child W). Ford mentions no informant or gives no date for his text which seems to be based on or similar to Sir Walter Scott's (Child C) Cruel Sister text from 1802 with minor changes. The stanzas at the end are different than Scott's. There is not change in the 2nd refrain which was common in the mid-1800s to mid-1900s in Scotland.
R. Matteson 2014, 2018]
Few collections of Scottish ballads have appeared within the last two hundred years which do not embrace a copy of the above, in one or other of its many forms, and under one or other of its various titles of, "The Cruel Sister," "The Drowned Lady," "The Bonnie Bows o' London," "Sister, Dear Sister," "The Miller and the King's Daughter," or the one here chosen. And if the text and titles have varied so also have the refrains. Sometimes it has been printed with a deal of repetition, and this curious refrain :—
"There were twa sisters sat in a bour,
Edinborough, Edinborough;
There were twa sisters sat in a bour,
Stirling for aye,
There were twa sisters sat in a bour,
There cam' a knight to be their wooer,
Bonnie Saint Johnstoun stands upon Tay."
Other refrains have been "Hey ho, my Nanny O," and "While the swan swims bonnie O." Whilst on the borderland it has been found with "Norham, O Norham," and "By the bonnie mill-dams o' Norham." For the very excellent melody here printed, perhaps the original air, and which has certainly the real old ballad cry in it, I am indebted to Mr. Thomas Lugton, Glasgow, who says it was noted by a friend of his own from the singing of a country person in the neighbourhood of Coldstream, Berwickshire, in or about the year 1830.
1. There were twa sisters lived in a bower,
Binnorie, O Binnorie!
There cam' a knight to be their wooer,
By the bonnie mill-dams o' Binnorie.
2. He courted the eldest wi' glove and ring,
Binnorie, O Binnorie!
But he lo'ed the youngest abune a' thing,
By the bonnie mill-dams o' Binnorie.
3. The eldest she was vexed sair,
Binnorie, O Binnorie!
And much envied her sister fair,
By the bonnie mill-dams o' Binnorie.
4. The eldest said to the youngest ane,
Binnorie, O Binnorie!
"Will ye see our father's ships come in?"
By the bonnie mill-dams o' Binnorie.
5. She's ta'en her by the lily hand;
Binnorie, O Binnorie!
And led her down to the river strand,
By the bonnie mill-dams o' Binnorie.
6. The youngest stood upon a stane;
Binnorie, O Binnorie!
The eldest cam' and pushed her in,
By the bonnie mill-dams o' Binnorie.
7. "O sister, sister, reach your hand,"
Binnorie, O Binnorie!
"And ye shall be heir o' half my land,"
By the bonnie mill-dams o' Binnorie.
8. "O sister, I'll not reach my hand."
Binnorie, O Binnorie!
"And I'll be heir o' a' your land,"
By the bonnie mill-dams o' Binnorie.
9. "Shame fa' the hand that I should take,"
Binnorie, O Binnorie!
"It has twined me and my world's make,
By the bonnie mill-dams o' Binnorie."
10. "O sister, sister, reach your glove,"
Binnorie, O Binnorie!
"And sweet William shall be your love,
By the bonnie mill-dams o' Binnorie.
11. "Sink on, nor hope for hand or glove,"
Binnorie, O Binnorie!
"And sweet William shall better be my love,
By the bonnie mill-dams o' Binnorie."
12. "Your cherry cheeks, and yellow hair,"
Binnorie, O Binnorie!
"Had garr'd me gang maiden evermair,
By the bonnie mill-dams o' Binnorie."
13. Sometimes she sank, sometimes she swam,
Binnorie, O Binnorie!
Until she cam' to the miller's dam,
By the bonnie mill-dams o' Binnorie.
14. The miller hasted and drew his dam,
Binnorie, O Binnorie!
And there he found a drown'd woman,
By the bonnie mill-dams o' Binnorie.
15. Upon her fingers, lily-white,—
Binnorie, O Binnorie!
The jewel-rings were shining bright,
By the bonnie mill-dams o' Binnorie.
16. Ye couldna see her yellow hair,
Binnorie, O Binnorie!
For gowd and pearls, a' sae rare,
By the bonnie mill-dams o' Binnorie.
17. Ye couldna see her middle sma',
Binnorie, O Binnorie!
Her gowden girdle was sae braw,
By the bonnie mill-dams o' Binnorie.
18. The miller's daughter was baking bread,
Binnorie, O Binnorie!
And gaed for water as she had need,
By the bonnie mill-dams o' Binnorie.
19. "O father, father, draw your dam!"
Binnorie, O Binnorie!
"There's a mermaid or a milk-white swan,
By the bonnie mill-dams o' Binnorie.
20. Ye couldna see her lily feet,
Binnorie, O Binnorie!
Her gowden fringes were sae deep,
By the bonnie mill-dams o' Binnorie.
21. Its by there come a harper fine,
Binnorie, O Binnorie!
Wha harp'd to nobles when they dine,
By the bonnie mill-dams o' Binnorie.
22. And when he looked that lady on,
Binnorie, O Binnorie!
He sighed, and made a heavy moan,
By the bonnie mill-dams o' Binnorie.
23. He's made a harp o' her breast bane,
Binnorie, O Binnorie!
Whase sounds would melt a heart o' stane,
By the bonnie mill-dams o' Binnorie.
24. He's ta'en three locks o' her yellow hair,
Binnorie, O Binnorie!
And wi' them strung his harp sae rare,
By the bonnie mill-dams o' Binnorie.
25. He went into her father's ha',
Binnorie, O Binnorie!
And played his harp before them a',
By the bonnie mill-dams o' Binnorie.
26. And first the harp sung loud and clear,
Binnorie, O Binnorie!
"Farewell, my father and mother dear,
By the bonnie mill-dams o' Binnorie."
27. Neist when the harp began to sing,
Binnorie, O Binnorie!
Twas "Farewell, William," said the string,
By the bonnie mill-dams o' Binnorie.
28. And then as plain as plain could be,
Binnorie, O Binnorie!
"There sits my sister, wha drowned me,
By the bonnie mill-dams o' Binnorie."