Dowie Dens o Yarrow

As sung by Martha (Peasie) Reid, Torwood, Birnam, Perthshire on 30 June 1967. Recorded at her home by Peter and Lena Shepheard [Spr 67.3.24].

There been a lady in thy north,
You scarce could find her marrow;
For she been courted by nine noblemen,
And the ploughboy bold from Yarrow.

For the gentlemen been drinkin wine,
They made a vow between them nine;
They made a vow between them nine,
To fight for her on Yarrow.

For she dressed up her ploughboy bold,
To fight for her on Yarrow;
'For will you go an' fight for me,
On the dowie dens o Yarrow?'

'It's will you take your gun, your gun,
Or will you take your arrow;
Or will you take your gey broad sword,
And fight for me tomorrow?'

'I'll neither take my gun, my gun,
I'll neither take my arrow;
But I shall take my gey broad sword,
And fight for you tomorrow.'

For it's three he slew and three he lew, [lieu? i.e left
And three that got away;
When her false brother John stepped in behind,
And pierced him through and through.

'Oh mother dear I dreamed a dream,
I hope it's not through sorrow;
That I been puin heather bells,
On the dowie dens o Yarrow.'

'Oh daughter dear I'll read your dream;
I'll read it all through sorrow;
That your true love John lies dead an' gone,
Lies a bloodan corp on Yarrow.'

'Oh mother dear oh make my bed,
Oh make it long an' narrow;
For if he died for me last night,
I'll die for him tomorrow.'

Oh she washed her face and combed her hair,
As often done before that;
For her hair it been three quarters long,
And the colour o it bein yellow;
For she tied it around his middle small,
And dragged him home from Yarrow.

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