Out then cam' the miller's son

(Binnorie, O Binnorie!)

And saw the fair maid soummin' in, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

'O father, father, draw your dam!' (Binnorie, O Binnorie!)

'There's either a mermaid or a swan, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

The miller quickly drew the dam, (Binnorie, O Binnorie!)

And there he found a drown'd woman, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

Round about her middle sma'
(Binnorie, O Binnorie!)
There went a gouden girdle bra'
By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

All amang her yellow hair

(Binnorie, O Binnorie!)

A string o' pearls was twisted rare,
By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

On her fingers lily-white,

(Binnorie, O Binnorie!)

The jewel-rings were shining bright, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

And by there cam' a harper fine, (Binnorie, O Binnorie!)

Harped to nobles when they dine,

By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

And when he looked that lady on,
(Binnorie, O Binnorie!)

He sigh'd and made a heavy moan,
By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

He's ta'en three locks o' her yellow hair,
(Binnorie, O Binnorie!)

And wi' them strung his harp sae rare,
By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

He went into her father's hall,
(Binnorie, O Binnorie!)

And played his harp before them all,
By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

And sune the harp sang loud and clear, (Binnorie, O Binnorie!)

'Fareweel, my father and mither dear!' By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

And neist when the harp began to sing, (Binnorie, O Binnorie!)

'Twas 'Fareweel, sweetheart!' said the string, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

And then as plain as plain could be, (Binnorie, O Binnorie!)

'There sits my sister wha drowned me! By the bonny mill-dams o' Binr.orie.'

BONNIE GEORGE CAMPBELL

(From Motherwell's Minstrelsy, 1827. Date of ballad uncertain)

Hie upon Hielands,
And low upon Tay,
Bonnie George Campbell
Rade out on a day.
Saddled and bridled

And gallant rade he;
Hame cam his gude horse,
But never cam he!

Out cam his auld mither

Greeting fu' sair,

And out cam his bonnie bride

Rivin' her hair.
Saddled and bridled

And booted rade he;
Toom hame cam the saddle
But never cam he!

"My meadow lies green,
And my corn is unshorn;
My barn is to big,

And my babie's unborn."
Saddled and bridled

And booted rade he;
Toom hame cam the saddle,
But never cam he.

HELEN OF KIRCONNELL

PART SECOND

(From Scott's Border Minstrelsy, 1802-3)

I wish I were where Helen lies!
Night and day on me she cries;
O that I were where Helen lies,
On fair Kirconnell Lee!

Curst be the heart that thought the thought,
And curst the hand that fired the shot,
When in my arms burd Helen dropt,
And died to succour me!

O think na ye my heart was sair,
When my love dropt down and spak nae mair!
There did she swoon wi' mickle care
On fair Kirconnell Lee.

As I went down the water-side,
None but my foe to be my guide,
None but my foe to be my guide,
On fair Kirconnell Lee!

I lighted down, my sword did draw,
I hacked him in pieces sma',
I hacked him in pieces sma',
For her sake that died for me.

O, Helen fair, beyond compare!
I'll make a garland of thy hair,
Shall bind my heart for evermair,
Until the day I die.

O that I were where Helen lies!
Night and day on me she cries;
Out of my bed she bids me rise,
Says, "Haste, and come to me!"

O Helen fair! O Helen chaste!
If I were with thee, I were blest,
Where thou lies low, and takes thy rest,
On fair Kirconnell Lee.

I wish my grave were growing green,
A winding-sheet drawn ower my een
And I in Helen's arms lying,

On fair Kirconnell Lee.

I wish I were where Helen lies!
Night and day on me she cries;
And I am weary of the skies,

For her sake that died for me.