The Bonnie Banks o Fordie
2: The Banks of Airdrie
Versions from the Singing Tradition
1: Banks of Airdrie
As sung by Mary Campbell of Huntly
2: Banks of Airdrie
As sung by Mary Reid, Peat Inn, Fife
3: Banks of Airdrie
As sung by Peasie Reid, Torwood, Birnam, Dunkeld
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As sung by Mary Reid, Peat Inn, Fife 67.2.7
There was three young sisters went out for a walk,
They met a robber on the way;
They met a robber on the way,
Down by the banks o' Airdrie O.
He catched the eldest sister all by the hand,
He gave her a quirl for to make her stand;
He gave her a quirl for to make her stand,
On the dewry dewry banks o' Airdrie O.
'Will you be a rank robber's wife,
Or will you die by my penknife;
Or will you die by my penknife,
On the dewry dewry Banks o' Airdrie O?'
'It's I'll not be a rank robbers wife
I'd rather die by your penknife;
I'd rather die by your penknife,
On the dewry dewry banks o Airdrie O.'
He catched the second sister all by the hand,
He gave her a quirl for to make her stand.
? ? ? Repeat verses 3 and 4 ? ? ?
He catched the youngest sister all by the hand
He gave her a quirl for to make her stand;
He gave her a quirl for to make her stand,
On the dewry dewry banks o' Airdrie O.
'Will you be a rank robbers wife,
Or will you die by my penknife;
Will you die by my penknife,
On the dewry dewry banks o Airdrie O?'
'It's I'll not be a rank robbers wife
Or I won't die by your penknife;
Or I won't die by your penknife
On the dewry banks o Airdrie O.'
'If my three brothers been here tonight
I would not die by your penknife;
I would not die by your penknife,
On the dewry banks o Airdrie O.'
If my three brothers had been here
You would not have killed my sisters dear;
You would not have killed my sisters dear,
On the dewry banks o Airdrie O.'
'And who may your three brothers be
That I shouldn't kill you sisters three;
That I shouldn't kill you sisters three,
On the dewry banks o Airdrie O?'
? ? ? verse not known ? ? ?
'Oh what is this that I have done?
I've killed my sisters all but one;
I've killed my sisters all but one,
On the dewry banks o Airdrie O.'
Then he took out his wee penknife,
And he took away his own sweet life;
He took away his own sweet life,
On the dewry banks o Airdrie O.
The following verses were sung:
v3, lines 1&2
v4, lines 1&3
v8, lines 1&3
v11, lines 1 to 4
The rest was then obtained from immediate discussion and from singing and discussion without tape recorder 30 April.
v1, yes, definite.
v2 to 10 as sung/recited
v11 as sung
v12, yes
v13, yes
vss missing
last two verses yes, definitely.
Mary Reid said her sister mistress Jeannie Reid in Aberdeen knows this. Also Willie and Sandy White in Dundee.
John Stewart knew some of the words and suggested that Donald Stewart married to Margaret Higgins in Aberdeenshire would know it. That is who he learned 'The Gadie Rins' from.
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