Bluegrass Messengers

The Roses Grow Sweet Aye (There Were Three Ladies Playing at the Ba')- Campbell, pre-1830, Child M

[This ballad was not in Child's Volume 1 but was added in Vol. 2. This appears in Volume 2 p. 253 titled Advertisement: "To Sir Hugh Hume Campbell, for the use of two considerable manuscript volumes of Scottish ballads." Both ballads, Child L and M, come from Campbell's collection. "Sweet Aye" appears to be a corruption of "Sweetlie."

Sir Hugh Hume-Campbell Baronet, born 15 Dec., 1812, died 30 Jan., 1894, London, England, was in possession of two ballad collections which Child called The Campbell Manuscripts.

Campbell MSS., 1830 or earlier: 'Old Scottish Songs collected in the counties of Berwick, Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles.' 2 volumes. Collector unknown. At Marchmont House, Berwickshire.

R. Matteson 2014, 2018]

The Roses Grow Sweet Aye Child 11- Version M
Campbell Manuscripts, II, 26.

1. There was three ladies playing at the ba,
      With a hay and a lilly gay
A gentleman cam amang them a'.
      And the roses grow sweet aye

2. The first of them was clad in yellow,
      With a hay and a lilly gay
And he askd at her gin she'd be his marrow.
      And the roses grow sweet aye

3. The next o them was clad in green;
      With a hay and a lilly gay
He askd at her gin she'd be his queen.
      And the roses grow sweet aye

4. The last o them [was] clad in red;
      With a hay and a lilly gay
He askd at her gin she'd be his bride.
      And the roses grow sweet aye.

5. 'Have ye asked at my father dear?
      With a hay and a lilly gay
Or have ye asked my mother dear?
      And the roses grow sweet aye

6. 'Have ye asked my sister Ann?
      With a hay and a lilly gay
Or have ye asked my brother John?'
      And the roses grow sweet aye

7. 'I have asked yer father dear,
      With a hay and a lilly gay
And I have asked yer mother dear.
      And the roses grow sweet aye

8. 'I have asked yer sister Ann,
      With a hay and a lilly gay
But I've quite forgot your brother John.'
      And the roses grow sweet aye

9. Her father dear led her thro them a',
      With a hay and a lilly gay
Her mother dear led her thro the ha.
      And the roses grow sweet aye

10. Her sister Ann led her thro the closs,
      With a hay and a lilly gay
And her brother John stabbed her on her horse.
      And the roses grow sweet aye.

11    'Ride up, ride up,' says the foremost man,
      With a hay and a lilly gay
'I think our bride looks pale and wan.'
      And the roses grow sweet aye

12    'Ride up,' cries the bonny bridegroom,
      With a hay and a lilly gay
'I think the bride be bleeding.'
      And the roses grow sweet aye

13    'This is the bludy month of May,
      With a hay and a lilly gay
Me and my horse bleeds night and day.
      And the roses grow sweet aye

14    'O an I were at yon green hill,
      With a hay and a lilly gay
I wad ly down and bleed a while.
      And the roses grow sweet aye

15    'O gin I was at yon red cross,
      With a hay and a lilly gay
I wad light down and corn my horse.
      And the roses grow sweet aye

16    'O an I were at yon kirk-style,
      With a hay and a lilly gay
I wad lye down and soon be weel.'
      And the roses grow sweet aye

17    When she cam to yon green hill,
      With a hay and a lilly gay
Then she lay down and bled a while.
      And the roses grow sweet aye

18    And when she cam to yon red cross,
      With a hay and a lilly gay
Then she lighted and corned her horse.
      And the roses grow sweet aye

19    'What will ye leave your father dear?'
      With a hay and a lilly gay
'My milk-white steed, which cost me dear.'
      And the roses grow sweet aye

20    'What will ye leave your mother dear?'
      With a hay and a lilly gay
'The bludy clothes that I do wear.'
      And the roses grow sweet aye

21    'What will ye leave your sister Ann?'
      With a hay and a lilly gay
'My silver bridle and my golden fan.'
      And the roses grow sweet aye

22    'What will ye leave your brother John?'
      With a hay and a lilly gay
'The gallows-tree to hang him on.'
      And the roses grow sweet aye

23    'What will ye leave to your sister Pegg?'
      With a hay and a lilly gay
'The wide world for to go and beg.'
      And the roses grow sweet aye

24    When she came to yon kirk-style,
      With a hay and a lilly gay
Then she lay down, and soon was weel.
      And the roses grow sweet aye