The Cruel Brother- Mary Barr (Lan) c.1777 Child B
From Kinloch's Manuscripts, I, 21, according to Kinloch it was "learned upwards of fifty years ago,"
R. Matteson 2018]
The Cruel Brother- from Mary Barr, May, 1827, Lesmahago, Clydesdale (Lanarkshire), Child B, learned about 1777.
1 A gentleman cam oure the sea,
Fine flowers in the valley
And he has courted ladies three.
With the light green and the yellow
2 One o them was clad in red:
Fine flowers in the valley
He asked if she wad be his bride.
With the light green and the yellow
3 One o them was clad in green:
Fine flowers in the valley
He asked if she wad be his queen.
With the light green and the yellow
4 The last o them was clad in white:
Fine flowers in the valley
He asked if she wad be his heart's delight.
With the light green and the yellow
5 'Ye may ga ask my father, the king:
Fine flowers in the valley
Sae maun ye ask my mither, the queen.
With the light green and the yellow
6 'Sae maun ye ask my sister Anne:
Fine flowers in the valley
And dinna forget my brither John.'
With the light green and the yellow
7 He has asked her father, the king:
Fine flowers in the valley
And sae did he her mither, the queen.
With the light green and the yellow
8 And he has asked her sister Anne:
Fine flowers in the valley
But he has forgot her brother John.
With the light green and the yellow
9 Her father led her through the ha,
Fine flowers in the valley
Her mither danced afore them a'.
With the light green and the yellow
10 Her sister Anne led her through the closs,
Fine flowers in the valley
Her brither John set her on her horse.
With the light green and the yellow
11 It's then he drew a little penknife,
Fine flowers in the valley
And he reft the fair maid o her life.
With the light green and the yellow
12 'Ride up, ride up,' said the foremost man;
Fine flowers in the valley
'I think our bride comes hooly on.'
With the light green and the yellow
13 'Ride up, ride up,' said the second man;
Fine flowers in the valley
'I think our bride looks pale and wan.'
With the light green and the yellow
14 Up than cam the gay bridegroom,
Fine flowers in the valley
And straucht unto the bride he cam.
With the light green and the yellow
15 'Does your side-saddle sit awry?
Fine flowers in the valley
Or does your steed . . .
With the light green and the yellow
16 'Or does the rain run in your glove?
Fine flowers in the valley
Or wad ye chuse anither love?'
With the light green and the yellow
17 'The rain runs not in my glove,
Fine flowers in the valley
Nor will I e'er chuse anither love.
With the light green and the yellow
18 'But O an I war at Saint Evron's well,
Fine flowers in the valley
There I wad licht, and drink my fill!
With the light green and the yellow
19 'Oh an I war at Saint Evron's closs,
Fine flowers in the valley
There I wad licht, and bait my horse!'
With the light green and the yellow
20 Whan she cam to Saint Evron's well,
Fine flowers in the valley
She dought na licht to drink her fill.
With the light green and the yellow
21 Whan she cam to Saint Evron's closs,
Fine flowers in the valley
The bonny bride fell aff her horse.
With the light green and the yellow
22 'What will ye leave to your father, the king?'
Fine flowers in the valley
'The milk-white steed that I ride on.'
With the light green and the yellow
23 'What will ye leave to your mother, the queen?'
Fine flowers in the valley
'The bluidy robes that I have on.'
With the light green and the yellow
24 'What will ye leave to your sister Anne?'
Fine flowers in the valley
'My gude lord, to be wedded on.'
With the light green and the yellow
25 'What will ye leave to your brither John?'
Fine flowers in the valley
'The gallows pin to hang him on.'
With the light green and the yellow
26 'What will ye leave to your brither's wife?'
Fine flowers in the valley
'Grief and sorrow a' the days o her life.'
With the light green and the yellow
27 'What will ye leave to your brither's bairns?'
Fine flowers in the valley
'The meal-pock to hang oure the arms.'
With the light green and the yellow
28 Now does she neither sigh nor groan:
Fine flowers in the valley
She lies aneath yon marble stone.
With the light green and the yellow