1: There wis a lady in the north,
I ne’er could find her marrow, [her equal
She wis courted by nine gentlemen,
And a plooboy lad fae Yarrow.

2: These nine sat drinking at the wine,
Sat drinking wine in Yarrow;
And they’ve made a vow amang them aa,
Tae fecht for her on Yarrow. [fight

3: She’s washed his face an kaimed his hair,
As aft she’s deen afore O;
An she’s made him like a knight sae braw, [fine
Tae fecht for her on Yarrow.

4: She’s washed his face an kaimed his hair,
As aft she’s deen afore O;
An she’s made him like a knight sae braw, [fine
Tae fecht for her on Yarrow.

5: Then he’s gaed up thon high, high hills,
In tae the houms o Yarrow; [dark valley
And it’s there he saw nine airmed men,
Come tae fecht wi him on Yarrow.

6: It’s three he slew and three they flew,
And three he’s wounded sairly;
But her brither John he’s come in ahin,
And he’s murdered him maist foully.

7: “Ah faither dear, I’ve dreamt a dream,
A dream o dule an sorrow; [dule=grief
I dreamt I wis puin heather bells,
On the dowie dens o Yarrow.”

8: “Ah dochter dear, I’ve read your dream,
I doot it will bring sorrow;
For your ain true love he lies pale and wan,
On the dowie dens o Yarrow.”

9: Well she’s gaed up thon high, high hills,
Intae the houms o Yarrow;
And it’s there she saw her ain true love,
Lying pale an wan on Yarrow.

10: Her hair it wis three-quarters lang,
The colour it wis yellow;
An she’s tied it roon his middle sma,
An she’s bore him doun fae Yarrow.

11: “Ah faither dear, ye’ve seiven sons,
Ye may wad them aa the morrow;
But the fairest flooer amang them aa,
Wis the plooboy lad fae Yarrow.”