Bluegrass Messengers

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