Binorie- Mrs. James Pirie (Aber) c.1831 Carpenter
[From James Madison Carpenter Collection, JMC/1/4/Q, p. 07734, standard text except the miller doesn't die at the burial. The word "claes" (1st line, last stanza) should mean "cloth" or "garment." The line usually appears: "Many were there when she was taken out of the dam," but in Crawfurd B, 1827 her garments are removed.
R. Matteson 2018]
"Binorie" sung by Mrs. James Pirie of Kirkside, Alvah, Banff, Scotland about 1931.
1 There was twa bonnie lassies lived in a booer,
Binorie, O an' Binorie,
There was a young man came a courtin' them,
He was the bonnie miller lad o Binorie.
2 He's courted the eldest wi' mony a braw thing,
Binorie, O an' Binorie,
But he courted the youngest wi' a far better thing,
She was the bonnie miller's lassie o Binorie.
3 "O sister, O sister if you'd tak a walk,
Binorie, O an' Binorie,
You'd hear all the blackbirds whistle ower their tune,
An' you'd see the bonnie miller lad o Binorie, O."
4 They walked up, an' so did they doon,
Binorie, O an' Binorie,
They heard all the blackbirds whistle ower their tune,
But they never saw the bonnie miller lad, o Binorie, O."
5. They walked up, an' so did they doon,
Binorie, O an' Binorie,
And the eldest pushed the youngest into the dam,
Into the dam o Binorie, O."
6. "O sister, O sister if you'll tak my hand,
Binorie, O an' Binorie,
An' I'll gie you my horses and all my free land,
To pull me oot of the dam o Binorie."
7. "It wasna for your gold that I dang ye in,
Binorie, O an' Binorie,
It's because ye are so white love, an' I am so din,
You're the bonnie miller's lassie o Binorie."
8. She swimmed up, an' so did she doon,
Binorie, O an' Binorie,
Till she sank to the bottom never to rise again,
The bottom o the dams o Binorie.
9. The miller's servant lassie came up to the dam,
Binorie, O an' Binorie,
Twas for water to wash bonnie miller's hand,
The bonnie miller lad o Binorie.
10. "O miller, O miller, there's fish into your dam,
Binorie, O an' Binorie,
There is a drooned lady or a milk-white swan,
Sailing up and doon the dams o Binorie."
11. The miller didna ken her by her bonnie goons o silk,
Binorie O an' Binorie,
But he did ken her by her middle sae gimp
She was the bonnie miller's lassie o Binorie.
12. Many were there at her claes aff-takin',
Binorie, O an' Binorie,
But few, few were there at her green grave makin';
Except the bonnie miller lad o Binorie.