Bonnie Milldams o Binnorie- J. Ord (Scot) 1930
[From: Bothy Songs and Ballads by John Ord with music. This seems like an arrangement of Child C, Scott's 1802 version of Binnorie titled Cruel Sister. The changes by Ord do not seem traditional but rather with a pen and intellect (by the author). I'm including it despite its questionable authenticity. The Scots dialect is inconsistent.
R. Matteson 2018]
Bonnie Milldams o Binnorie- from John Ord, no source given but from Scotland before 1930.
1 There were twa sisters sat in a bower;
Binnorie, O Binnorie
There cam' a knight to be their wooer.
By the bonnie mill-dams of Binnorie
2 He courted the eldest wi' glove and wi' ring,
But he lo'ed the youngest aboon a' thing.
3 The eldest she was vexed sair,
And sairly envied her sister fair.
4 Upon a morning fair and clear,
She cried upon her sister dear,
5 O sister, sister, tak' my hand,
And let's go down to the river strand.
6 She's taen her by the lilly hand,
And down they went to the river strand.
7 The youngest stood upon a stane,
The eldest cam' and pushed her in.
8 "O sister, sister, reach your hand,
And ye shall be heir of half my land."
9 "O sister, sister, reach but your glove,
And Sweet William sall be your love."
10 Sometimes she sank, and sometimes she swam,
Til she cam' to the mouth o' yon mill-dam.
11. Out then cam' the miller's son,
And he saw the fair maid soomin' in,
12 "O father, father, draw your dam,
There's either a mermaid or a swan."
13 The miller quickly drew his dam,
And there he found a drowned woman.
14 Round about her middle sma',
There was a gowden girdle braw.
15 All amang her yellow hair,
A string o pearls was twisted rare,
16. By there cam' a harper fine
Who harped for nobles when they dine.
17 And when he looked that lady on,
He sighed and made a heavy moan.
18 He's ta'en three locks o' her yellow hair,
And wi' them strung his harp rare.
19 He went into her father's hall,
And played his harp before them all,
20 And sune that harp played loud and clear,
Farewell my father and mither dear.
21 And neist when the harp began to sing
Twas "farewell sweetheart" said the string,
22. And then as plain as plain could be,
"There sits my sister who drowned me,"