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The Ballad of Binnorie
or The Two Sisters
Harp
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There were twa sisters sat in a bow'r
Binnorie, O Binnorie
There cam a knight to be their wooer.
By the bonnie mill-dams of Binnorie.
He courted the eldest wi' glove and ring
Binnorie, O Binnorie
But he lo'ed the youngest aboon a'thing.
By the bonnie mill-dams of Binnorie.
He coorted the eldest wi' broach and knife
Binnorie, O Binnorie
But he lo'ed the youngest aboon his life.
By the bonnie mill-dams of Binnorie.
The eldest she was vexed sair
Binnorie, O Binnorie
And sore envied her sister fair.
By the bonnie mill-dams of Binnorie.
The eldest said to the youngest ane:
Binnorie, O Binnorie
"Will you go and see our father's ships come in"
By the bonnie mill-dams of Binnorie.
She's ta'en her by the lily hand
Binnorie, O Binnorie
And led her down to the river strand.
By the bonnie mill-dams of Binnorie.
The youngest stude upon a stane
Binnorie, O Binnorie
The eldest cam' and pushed her in.
By the bonnie mill-dams of Binnorie.
She took her by her middle sma'
Binnorie, O Binnorie
And dashed her bonny back to the jaw.
By the bonnie mill-dams of Binnorie.
"Oh sister, sister reach your hand
Binnorie, O Binnorie
And ye shall be heir of half my land"
By the bonnie mill-dams of Binnorie.
"Oh sister, I'll not reach my hand
Binnorie, O Binnorie
And I'll be heir of all your land."
By the bonnie mill-dams of Binnorie.
"Shame fa' the hand that I should take
Binnorie, O Binnorie
It's twined me, and my world's make."
By the bonnie mill-dams of Binnorie.
"Oh sister, reach me but your glove
Binnorie, O Binnorie
And sweet William shall be your love."
By the bonnie mill-dams of Binnorie.
"Sink on, nor hope for hand or glove
Binnorie, O Binnorie
And sweet William shall better be my love."
By the bonnie mill-dams of Binnorie.
"Your cherry cheeks and your yellow hair
Binnorie, O Binnorie
Garr'd me gang maiden ever mair."
By the bonnie mill-dams of Binnorie.
Sometimes she sunk, sometimes she swam
Binnorie, O Binnorie
Until she cam to the miller's dam.
By the bonnie mill-dams of Binnorie.
The miller's daughter was baking bread
Binnorie, O Binnorie
And gaed for water as she had need.
By the bonnie mill-dams of Binnorie.
"O father, father, draw your dam!
Binnorie, O Binnorie
There's either a mermaid or a milk-white swan."
By the bonnie mill-dams of Binnorie.
The miller hasted and drew his dam
Binnorie, O Binnorie
And there he found a drown'd woman.
By the bonnie mill-dams of Binnorie.
Ye couldna see her yellow hair
Binnorie, O Binnorie
For gowd and pearls that were sae rare.
By the bonnie mill-dams of Binnorie.
Ye coldna see her middle sma'
Binnorie, O Binnorie
Her gowden girdle was sae braw.
By the bonnie mill-dams of Binnorie.
Ye couldna see her lily feet
Binnorie, O Binnorie
Her gowden fringes were sae deep.
By the bonnie mill-dams of Binnorie.
A famous harper passing by
Binnorie, O Binnorie
The sweet pale face he chanced to spy.
By the bonnie mill-dams of Binnorie.
And when he looked that lady on
Binnorie, O Binnorie
He sighed, and made a heavy moan.
By the bonnie mill-dams of Binnorie.
"Sair will they be, whate'er they be
Binnorie, O Binnorie
The hearts that live to beat for thee."
By the bonnie mill-dams of Binnorie.
He made a harp o' her breast bone
Binnorie, O Binnorie
Whose sounds would melt a heart of stone.
By the bonnie mill-dams of Binnorie.
The strings he framed of her yellow hair
Binnorie, O Binnorie
Their notes made sad the listening ear.
By the bonnie mill-dams of Binnorie.
He brought it to her father's ha'
Binnorie, O Binnorie
There was the court assembled there.
By the bonnie mill-dams of Binnorie.
He layed the harp upon a stane
Binnorie, O Binnorie
And straight it began to play alane.
By the bonnie mill-dams of Binnorie.
"O yonder sits my father the King
Binnorie, O Binnorie
And yonder sits my mother, the queen."
By the bonnie mill-dams of Binnorie.
"And yonder stands my brother Hugh
Binnorie, O Binnorie
And by him, my William, false and true."
By the bonnie mill-dams of Binnorie.
And then, as plain as plain can be
Binnorie, O Binnorie
"There sits my sister who drownèd me"
By the bonnie mill-dams of Binnorie.
And the last tune that the harp played then
Binnorie, O Binnorie
Was: "Woe to my sister, false Helen"
By the bonnie mill-dams of Binnorie.
If you find this ballad's dialect a bit daunting, try reading the
story of Binnorie.
A
recording of Binnorie and other ballads
Ghost
Stories and Grim Tales
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