Binorie- Miss Bell Duncan (Aber) c.1868 Carpenter
[My date. Here's Bell Duncan's version from James Madison Carpenter Collection, JMC/1/11/285, Disc Side 279, 04:21. Bell uses "mullert" for miller; stanza 4 is nonconforming. Her version is similar to William Walker's. One of several versions where the bonnie mullert laddie dies at her burial.
R. Matteson 2018]
"Binorie," sung by Miss Bell Duncan of Lambhill, Insch, Aberdeenshire about 1931, probably dating back to early to mid-1800s.
1 There wis twa sisters lived in a booer,
Binorie, aye O Binorie,
An' the youngest was the fairest flooer,
She's the bonnie mullert's lass o Binorie.
2 He courted the eldest wi' ribbons an' rings,
Binorie, aye O Binorie,
But he courted the youngest wi far better things,
She's the bonnie mullert's lass o Binorie.
3 "O dear sister, we may tak a walk,
Binorie, aye O Binorie,
An' hear a' the blackbirds whistle ower their notes,
An' we'll see the mullert's lad o Binorie."
4 They walked up, an' sae hae they doon,
Binorie, aye O Binorie,
By the bonnie milldams o Binorie.
Until the eldest ane dang the youngest in,
Tee the deepest milldam o Binorie.
5. O sister, dear sister, reach me yer hand,
Binorie, aye O Binorie
"I'll gie ye half my siller, an' a third pairt o' my lan',
And the bonnie mullert lad o Binorie.
6. "It wisna for that that I dang ye in,
Binorie, aye O Binorie
Bet ye're sae very fair an' I sae very din,
Ye may droon in the dam o Binorie."
7. The mullert's servant lass she's gane oot tae the dam,
Binorie, aye O Binorie
It wis for water ti wash the mullert's hands,
The bonnie mullert laddie o Binorie.
8. "O dear maister, there's fish in yer dam,
Binorie, aye O Binorie,
Or there's a droont lady or else a fite (white) swan,
In the deepest milldam o Binorie."
9. He his dammed his burns a roon,
Binorie aye O Binorie
An' they've taen her oot an' laid her on a stane,
By the bonnie milldams o Binorie.
10. There wis nae ane kent her by her yellow hair,
Binorie aye O Binorie
But the mullert laddie kent her by the ring that he gae her,
She wis his ain dearest lassie o Binorie.
11. Mony a ane wis at her oot-takin',
Binorie, aye O Binorie
Bet the bonnie mullert laddie dee't at her green grave makin';
He's the bonnie mullert lad o Binorie.