Rosie Smell'd Sae Sweetlie- Mary O'Meally (Ayr) 1827 Crawfurd
[From Andrew Crawfurd's Collection of Ballads and Songs: Volume 1 by E. B. Lyle. Kilbirnie is a small town situated in the Garnock Valley area of North Ayrshire, on the west coast of Scotland.
R. Matteson 2018]
The Rosie Smell'd Sae Sweetlie- sung by Mary o'Meally of Kilbirnie spring of 1827; collected by Thomas Macqueen.
1. There was three ladies playin at the ba'
Hey ho an' a lily gay
An' up cam' a king amang them a',
An' the rosie smellit sae sweetlie.
2. The auldest she was drest in white
An' he spierit her gin she'd be his bride
3. The second she was drest in yellow
An' he spierit her gin she'd be his marrow
4. The youngest she was drest in green
An' he spierit her gin she'd be his queen
5. O ye maun speir my father king
An' ye maun speir my mither queen
6. O ye maun speir my sister Ann
An' ye maun speir my brither John"
7. Oh, I hae speirit your father king
An' likewise your mither queen
8. O I hae speirit your sister Ann
An' your brither John is not at hame.
9. Her mother led her doun the stair
Her sirter led her thro' the ha'
10. Her father led her thro' the street
An' her brither helpit her on her steed
11. Sin' ye are high an' I am low
Gie me a kiss before ye go
12. She stooit tae gaie him a kiss
An' she gied her an oun an a vera deep oun
13. Ride on ride on said the formost man
For I think our bride comes slowlie on
14. Does the rain rain on your yellow hair
Or does the rain rain in your shoon
15 Is your saddle gane tae the side
Or is your steed gane aff his ride
16. It rainsna on my yellow hair
Norr does it rain into my shoon
17. My saddle's no gane tae the side
Nor my steed is no aff his ride
18. Ride on ride on tae yonner well
There I'll lye doun an' drink my fill
19. Tae yonner green richt rathlie hie
An' there I will lye doun an' die
20. What will ye lea tae your father king
The same portion he gied tae me
21. What will ye gie tae your mither queen
The bluidie claise that I hae on
22. What will ye lea' tae your sister Ann
My gooden bible an' siller fan
23. What will ye lea' tae your brither John
The fatal gallows tae hing on
24 What will ye lea' tae your brither's wife
The wide warl tae mourn in for life
25. What will you lea' tae your brither's wean
The wide warl for tae beg in.