Three Sisters- Mrs. Johnston (N. Scotland) c.1826 Kinloch, Child 10D
[My title, date. From Kinloch's Manuscripts, volume II, p. 49, there are seven volumes dated 1826 and after. This is similar to Mrs. Brown's version.
R. Matteson 2014, 2018]
Three Sisters- Child 10D; Kinloch's Manuscripts, II, 49. From the recitation of Mrs. Johnston, a North-country lady.
1 There lived three sisters in a bouer,
Edinbruch, Edinbruch
There lived three sisters in a bouer,
Stirling for aye
There lived three sisters in a bouer,
The youngest was the sweetest flowr.
Bonnie St Johnston stands upon Tay
2 There cam a knicht to see them a',
Edinbruch, Edinbruch
There cam a knicht to see them a',
Stirling for aye
There cam a knicht to see them a',
And on the youngest his love did fa.
Bonnie St Johnston stands upon Tay
3 He brought the eldest ring and glove,
Edinbruch, Edinbruch
He brought the eldest ring and glove,
Stirling for aye
He brought the eldest ring and glove,
But the youngest was his ain true-love.
Bonnie St Johnston stands upon Tay
4 He brought the second sheath and knife,
Edinbruch, Edinbruch
He brought the second sheath and knife,
Stirling for aye
He brought the second sheath and knife,
But the youngest was to be his wife.
Bonnie St Johnston stands upon Tay
5 The eldest sister said to the youngest ane,
Edinbruch, Edinbruch
The eldest sister said to the youngest ane,
Stirling for aye
The eldest sister said to the youngest ane,
'Will ye go and see our father's ships come in?'
Bonnie St Johnston stands upon Tay
6 And as they walked by the linn,
Edinbruch, Edinbruch
And as they walked by the linn,
Stirling for aye
And as they walked by the linn,
The eldest dang the youngest in.
Bonnie St Johnston stands upon Tay
7 'O sister, sister, tak my hand,
Edinbruch, Edinbruch
'O sister, sister, tak my hand,
Stirling for aye
'O sister, sister, tak my hand,
And ye'll be heir to a' my land.'
Bonnie St Johnston stands upon Tay
8 'Foul fa the hand that I wad take,
Edinbruch, Edinbruch
'Foul fa the hand that I wad take,
Stirling for aye
'Foul fa the hand that I wad take,
To twin me o my warld's make.'
Bonnie St Johnston stands upon Tay
9 'O sister, sister, tak my glove,
Edinbruch, Edinbruch
'O sister, sister, tak my glove,
Stirling for aye
'O sister, sister, tak my glove,
And yese get Willie, my true-love.'
Bonnie St Johnston stands upon Tay
10 'Sister, sister, I'll na tak your glove,
Edinbruch, Edinbruch
'Sister, sister, I'll na tak your glove,
Stirling for aye
'Sister, sister, I'll na tak your glove,
For I'll get Willie, your true-love.'
Bonnie St Johnston stands upon Tay
11 Aye she swittert, and aye she swam,
Edinbruch, Edinbruch
Aye she swittert, and aye she swam,
Stirling for aye
Aye she swittert, and aye she swam,
Till she cam to yon bonnie mill-dam.
Bonnie St Johnston stands upon Tay
12 The miller's dochter cam out wi speed,
Edinbruch, Edinbruch
The miller's dochter cam out wi speed,
Stirling for aye
The miller's dochter cam out wi speed,
It was for water, to bake her bread.
Bonnie St Johnston stands upon Tay
13 'O father, father, gae slack your dam;
Edinbruch, Edinbruch
'O father, father, gae slack your dam;
Stirling for aye
'O father, father, gae slack your dam;
There's in't a lady or a milk-white swan.'
Bonnie St Johnston stands upon Tay
* * * * *
14 They could na see her coal-black eyes
Edinbruch, Edinbruch
They could na see her coal-black eyes
Stirling for aye
They could na see her coal-black eyes
For her yellow locks hang oure her brees.
Bonnie St Johnston stands upon Tay
* * * * *
15 They could na see her weel-made middle
Edinbruch, Edinbruch
They could na see her weel-made middle
Stirling for aye
They could na see her weel-made middle
For her braid gowden girdle.
Bonnie St Johnston stands upon Tay
* * * * *
16 And by there cam an auld blind fiddler,
Edinbruch, Edinbruch
And by there cam an auld blind fiddler,
Stirling for aye
And by there cam an auld blind fiddler,
And took three tets o her bonnie yellow hair.
Bonnie St Johnston stands upon Tay
* * * * *
17 The first spring that the bonnie fiddle playd,
Edinbruch, Edinbruch
The first spring that the bonnie fiddle playd,
Stirling for aye
The first spring that the bonnie fiddle playd,
'Hang my cruel sister, Alison,' it said.
Bonnie St Johnston stands upon Tay