There War Three Bonnie Boys- Mrs. Bouchar (Forf) Kinloch c. 1828 Child I
[From The Kinloch Manuscripts, i, 27 dated c. 1828 or later, Child Version I,
R. Matteson 2014, 2018]
There War Three Bonnie Boys; from Mrs. Bouchart, an old lady native of Forfarshire. Kinloch's Manuscripts, I, 27.
1 There war three bonnie boys playing at the ba,
Hech hey and a lily gay
There cam three ladies to view them a'.
And the rose it smells sae sweetlie
2 The first ane was clad in red:
Hech hey and a lily gay
'O,' says he, 'ye maun be my bride.'
And the rose it smells sae sweetlie
3 The next o them was clad in green:
Hech hey and a lily gay
'O,' says he, 'ye maun be my queen.'
And the rose it smells sae sweetlie
4 The tither o them was clad in yellow:
Hech hey and a lily gay
'O,' says he, 'ye maun be my marrow.'
And the rose it smells sae sweetlie
5 'Ye maun gang to my father's bouer,
Hech hey and a lily gay
To see gin your bride he'll let me be.'
And the rose it smells sae sweetlie
6 Her father led her doun the stair,
Hech hey and a lily gay
Her mither at her back did bear.
And the rose it smells sae sweetlie
7 Her sister Jess led her out the closs,
Hech hey and a lily gay
Her brother John set her on the horse.
And the rose it smells sae sweetlie
8 She loutit doun to gie him a kiss;
Hech hey and a lily gay
He struck his penknife thro her breist.
And the rose it smells sae sweetlie
9 'Ride on, ride on,' says the foremaist man;
Hech hey and a lily gay
'I think our bride looks pale and wan.'
And the rose it smells sae sweetlie
10 'Ride on, ride on,' says the merry bride-groom;
Hech hey and a lily gay
'I think my bride's blude is rinnin doun.'
And the rose it smells sae sweetlie
11 'O gin I war at yon bonnie hill,
Hech hey and a lily gay
I wad lie doun and bleed my fill!
And the rose it smells sae sweetlie
12 'O gin I war at yon bonnie kirk-yard,
Hech hey and a lily gay
I wad mak my testament there!'
And the rose it smells sae sweetlie
13 'What will ye leave to your father dear?'
Hech hey and a lily gay
'The milk-white steed that brocht me here.'
And the rose it smells sae sweetlie
14 'What will ye leave to your mother dear?'
Hech hey and a lily gay
'The bluidy robes that I do wear.'
And the rose it smells sae sweetlie
15 'What will ye leave to your sister Ann?'
Hech hey and a lily gay
'My silken snood and gowden fan.'
And the rose it smells sae sweetlie
16 'What will ye leave to your sister Jess?'
Hech hey and a lily gay
'The bonnie lad that I loe best.'
And the rose it smells sae sweetlie
17 'What will ye leave to your brother John?'
Hech hey and a lily gay
'The gallows pin to hang him on.'
And the rose it smells sae sweetlie
18 'What will ye leave to your brother John's wife?'
Hech hey and a lily gay
'Sorrow and trouble a' her life.'
And the rose it smells sae sweetlie
19 'What will ye leave to your brother's bairns?'
Hech hey and a lily gay
'The warld's wide, and let them beg.'
And the rose it smells sae sweetlie