Milldams o' Binorie- William Argo (Aber) c.1907 Greig C
[From Greig-Duncan Folk Song Collection, Lyle and Shuldham-Shaw, version C. This is associated with the standard Scottish text, Child M from Aberdeenshire.
R. Matteson 2018]
"The Milldams o' Binorie" sung by William Argo of Rothienorman, Aberdeenshire, c. 1907, collected Duncan.
1. Two Scottish lovers (sisters) lived in a booer,
Binorie, O and Binorie,
A bonnie miller laddie a-courtin' then did gang,
Fae the bonny milldams o Binorie O.
2. He has coortit the eldest with diamonds and rings,
Binorie, O and Binorie,
He has coortit the youngest with far better things,
She's his bonnie lassie fae Binorie O.
3. "O sister, O sister will ye tak a walk,
Binorie, O and Binorie,
We will hear the bonny blackbirdies whistle o'er their tunes,
And we'll maybe see the millert o Binorie O?
4. "O sister, O sister I will tak a walk,
Binorie, O and Binorie,
We will hear the bonny blackbirdies whistle ower their tunes,
But we winna see the bonnie millert o Binorie O.
5. They walk-ed up and they've walk-ed doon,
Binorie, O and Binorie,
Till the eldest sister she dang the younger in,
To the bonny milldams o Binorie O.
6. "O sister, O sister, give to me your hand,
Binorie, O and Binorie,
An' I'll gie you my gowd and the half pairt of my land,
And I'll gie ye the bonnie millert o Binorie O."
7. "It wasna for that that I dang ye in,
Binorie, O an' Binorie,
Since ye've been sae very fair, and I sae very dim (din),
Ye can drown in the dams o Binorie O."
8. The millert's servant girl to the dams she did gang,
Binorie, O and Binorie,
For some water to wash the miller's hands,
To the bonnie milldams o Binorie, O.
9. "O miller[1], O miller, there's fish into your dams,
Binorie, O an' Binorie,
There's ae droont lady or than your white swan,
Swimming up and doon the dams o Binorie O."
10. She floated up and she floated doon,
Binorie, O and Binorie,
Till she sank to the bottom never to rise again,
In the bonny milldams o Binorie O."
11. They've fish-ed up and they've fish-ed doon,
Binorie, O and Binorie,
And they've ta'en her oot and they've laid her on a stone,
She's his ain bonny lassie fae Binorie O.
12 He didn't ken her by her yellow hair,
Binorie O and Binorie,
But weel kent he her by the gowd rings he gae her,
She's his ain bonny lassie fae Binorie O.
13. Mony een[2] was at her oot takin',
Binorie, O and Binorie,
But he bonny millert dee'd at her grave makin',
She's his ain bonny lassie fae Binorie O.
14. Now they are both dead, so we must let them go,
Binorie, O and Binorie,
And we're left behind to sing their overthrow,
She's his ain bonny lassie fae Binorie O.
1. "millert" to be consistent
2. Many a one