| Download Midi File Lesley Nelson |
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| This tune is also known as Busk ye, busk ye, my bonny bonny bride which was written by William Hamilton of Bangour. Child notes that a source states this tune appeared in Tea Table Miscellany in 1724.
This ballad is based on Child Ballad #214 (The Braes of Yarrow). This version differs from the ballads in Child in that the man who kills the woman's lover tries to persuade her to marry him. Variants and alternate titles include: The Bonny Braes of Yarrow. The Dowy Houms o Yarrow, The Dowie Dens of Yarrow, The Dowie Dens and The Yetts of Gowrie. The Braes of Yarrow was printed in Sir Walter Scott's Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border (1803). Child lists sixteen different versions, one "communicated to Percy" in 1768. The ballad tells the tale of of brothers who disapprove of their sisters fiancée (sometimes husband). In all but one of the traditions the husband (lover) is killed by a brother. In several versions the wife has a dream that she and her lord had been pulling green heather (birk) in Yarrow. The ballad explains the dream signifies her lover's death. James Hogg wrote that the ballad was very old and said the subject of the ballad was a knight named Scott who lived in Ettrick (Selkirkshire), Oakwood or Kirkhope. Scott was slain by his brother-in-law because his father had given half of his wealth to his sister on her marriage. Hogg gives the name of the treacherous brother-in-law as Annand. Sir Walter Scott speculated that the ballad was based on a duel between John Scott of Tushielaw and his brother-in-law Walter Scott of Thirlestane. That duel, in which John Scott was killed, took place in 1609. However, the two protagonists were not brothers-in-law. In 1616, during the ensuing feud between families, Grizel Scott of Thirlestane eloped with Walter Scott of Tushielaw. Three months after the elopement there is an entry of a summons to Simeon Scott of Boyntoun and three other Scotts, to "hear themselves excommunicat for the horrible slaughter of Walter Scott (of Tushielaw)." Child feels this incident more closely follows the ballad than the aforementioned duel. For a complete list of Child Ballads at this site see Francis J. Child Ballads. |
Busk ye, busk ye, my bonnie, bonnie bride, Busk ye, busk ye, my winsome marrow Busk ye, busk ye, my bonnie, bonnie bride, And think nae mair o' the braes of Yarrow. Where got ye that bonnie, bonnie, bride? Where got ye that winsome marrow? I got her where I darena well be seen, Pu'ing the birks on the braes of Yarrow. Weep not, weep not, my bonnie, bonnie bride, Weep not, weep not, my winsome marrow, Nor let thy heart lament to leave Pu'ing the birks on the braes of Yarrow. Why does she weep, thy bonnie, bonnie bride? Why does she weep, thy winsome marrow? And why daur ye nae mair weel be seen Pu'ing the birks on the braes of Yarrow? Lang maun she weep, lang, lang, maun, she weep Lang maun she weep wi' dule and sorrow, And lang maun I nae mair weel be seen Pu'ing the birks on the braes o' Yarrow: For she has tint her lover, lover dear, her lover dear, the cause o' sorrow; And I hae slain the comeliest swain That e'er pu'ed birks on the braes o' Yarrow Fair was thy love, fair, fair indeed thy love! In flowery bands thou didst him fetter: Though he was fair and well-beloved again, Than me he did not love thee better, Busk ye, then, busk ye, my bonnie, bonnie bride, Busk ye, busk ye, my winsome marrow, Busk ye, and lo'e me on the banks o' the Tweed, And think nae mair o' the braes o' Yarrow. |
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| From
Songs of Scotland The Royal Edition, Volume I and The English and Scottish Popular Ballads See Bibliography for full information. |
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