Binorie- Gillespie/Duncan (Aber) 1905 Greig A
[From Greig-Duncan Folk Song Collection, Lyle and Shuldham-Shaw, p.76-77. Originally Binnorie (two n's) but text has Binorie. This is Duncan family version (children of William Duncan of New Deer) and dates well into the 1800s. It's nearly identical to Child M from Old Deer. Cf. "Binorie" from Duncan's MSS sung by Mary McWilliam, Grange, 1905, taken down by Jeanie McDonald of Alford.
R. Matteson 2018]
"Binorie" as sung by Margaret Gillespie (1841- 1910, Glasgow), George B. Duncan (b. 1860, New Deer) and Rev. James B. Duncan (Lynturk), 1905.
1 There lived twa sisters in yonder ha',
Binorie, O an' Binorie,
They hid bit ae lad atween then twa,
He's the bonnie miller lad o Binorie.
2 It fell aince upon a day
Binorie, O an' Binorie,
That the auldest ane to the youngest did say,
At the bonnie mulldams o Binorie.
3. "O sister, O sister will ye gang to the brooms,
Binorie, O an' Binorie,
An' hear the little blackbirdie changing its tunes,
An' see the mullart lad o Binorie?
4. "O sister, O sister will ye gang to the dams,
Binorie, O an' Binorie,
An' see our father's fish boats safe on dry land,
An' see the mullart lad o Binorie?
5. They hadna been half an hour at the dams,
Binorie, O an' Binorie,
Till they trice heard the blackbirdie changing its tunes,
At the bonnie mull dams o Binorie.
6. They hadna been an hour at the dams,
Binorie, O an' Binorie,
Till they saw their father's fish boats safe on dry land,
But they sawna the bonnie mullart laddie.
7. The youngest ane stood on a stane,
Binorie, O an' Binorie,
The auldest ane dung the youngest in,
To the bonnie mull dams o Binorie."
8. She swam up an' she swam down,
Binorie, O an' Binorie,
Till she swam back tull her sister again,
In the bonnie mull dams o Binorie."
9. "O sister, O sister, will ye reach me yere glove,
Binorie, O an' Binorie,
An' I'll make you heir o my true love,
The bonnie mullart lad o Binorie."
10. "It wisna for that that I dang ye in,
Binorie, O an' Binorie,
It's because ye are fair, an' I am din,
An' ye'll droon in the dams o Binorie."
11. Oot cam the aul' mullart's daughter to the dams,
Binorie, O an' Binorie,
For water to wash her father's hands,
Fae the bonnie mull dams o Binorie.
12. "O father, O father, go a-fishing in your dams,
Binorie, O an' Binorie,
For there's either a mermaid or a milk-white swan,
In the bonnie mull dams o Binorie."
13. They socht up an' they socht down,
Binorie, O an' Binorie,
But they got naething but a droon'd woman,
In the bonnie mull dams o Binorie."
14. Some o them kent her by her skin so fair,
Binorie O an' Binorie,
Bet weel kent the mullart by her bonnie yellow hair,
She's the mullart's bonnie lass o Binorie.
15. Some o them kent her by her goon o silk,
Binorie O an' Binorie,
Bet the mullart laddie ken her by her middle so jimp,
'Twas his ain bonnie lass o Binorie.
16. Mony a ane was at her oot takin',
Binorie, O an' Binorie,
An' mony ane mair at her green grave makin';
At the bonnie mulldams o Binorie.