Minorie- Bell Robertson (Aber) c.1906 Greig S
From Greig-Duncan Folk Song Collection, Lyle and Shuldham-Shaw, p.76-77. This version is certainly much older than 1906. See also Keith Greig "Last Leaves." The penultimate stanza is missing as well as the two possible ending stanzas. Two additional stanzas were given by Roberston as Grieg V:
Oh sistr, oh sistr tak me by the middle
And gee you. . . girdle.
Oh sistr, oh sistr I'll no tak me yer middle,
For ye'll gar me gae a maiden forever.
The stanzas would use the same refrains (see below) perhaps inserted after 11.
R. Matteson 2018]
Minorie- recited by Bell Robertson of New Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire; collected about 1906 by Grieg, she was his best informant.
1 There lived two sisters in one bower,
Minorie O an' Minorie
An' there was a young man courted them both,
Oh the bonnie damsides o Minorie.
2 He courted the elder wi' a' his lan',
Minorie O an' Minorie
He courted the younger wi' his right han',
Oh the bonnie damsides o Minorie.
3 He gae the elder brooch an' ring
Minorie O an' Minorie
He loved the younger above anything,
Oh the bonnie damsides o Minorie.
4. He courted the elder wi his penknife
Minorie O an' Minorie
He loved the younger aa dear as his life,
Oh the bonnie damsides o Minorie.
5 "O sister, O sister, ye'll go to the broom,
Minorie O an Minorie
To hear the blackbird change his tune,
An' maybe see the lads o Minorie.
6 They walk-ed up an' they walk-ed doon,
Minorie O an Minorie
And thrice the blackbird changed his tune,
But they never saw the lads o Minorie.
7 O sister, O sister ye'll go to the dam
Minorie O an Minorie
To see gin our father's ships be comin in
To the bonnie damsides o Minorie.
8 They went to the dam and they stood upon a stone,
Minorie O an Minorie
An' the elder dang the younger in,
To the bonnie damsides o Minorie.
9 She swam up, an she swam doon,
Minorie O an Minorie
Till she swam to where her sister did stan',
On the bonnie damsides o Minorie.
10. 'O sister, O sister, tak my han',
Minorie O an Minorie
An ye'll get the miller an' a' his lan',
He's the bonnie miller lad o Minorie.'
11 'It wasna for that 'at I dang you in,
Minorie O an Minorie
But ye was fair an' I was dun,
An' ye'll drown in the dams o Minorie.
12 The miller's ae daughter she gaed oot to the dam,
Minorie O an Minorie
For water to wash her father's han's,
From the bonnie milldams o Minorie,
13 'O father, O father, ye will fish your dams,
Minorie O an Minorie
For there's either a maid or a milk-white swan,
Has drowned in the dams o Minorie,
* * * *
14 There was nane o them a' kent her face sae fair,
Minorie O an Minorie
But weel kent the miller by her bonnie yellow hair
Twas his ane bonnie lass o Minorie.