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Bonnie Banks o Fordie
(Trad)

Song Lyric as sung by Dick Gaughan

There were three sisters lived in a bouer
An they aa went out for tae pu a flouer
They aa went out for tae pu a flouer
Doun by the bonnie banks o Fordie-o

An they hadnae pu'd a flouer but ane
Whan up thair steppt a banisht man
Whan up thair steppt a banisht man
Doun by the bonnie banks o Fordie-o

An he's taen the first ane by the haun
An he's turnt her roun an he's made her staun
etc.

Oh it's will ye be a robber's wife
Or will ye dee by my penknife

Oh it's A'll no be a robber's wife
But A will dee by your penknife

So it's he's taen out his wee penknife
An thair he's twined her o her life

An he's taen the saicant ane by the haun
An he's turnt her roun an he's made her staun

Oh it's will ye be a robber's wife
Or will ye dee by my penknife

Oh it's A'll no be a robber's wife
A'd raither dee by your penknife

So it's he's taen out his wee penknife
An thair he's twined her o her life

An he's taen the third ane by the haun
An he's turnt her roun an he's made her staun

Oh it's will ye be a robber's wife
Or will ye dee by my penknife

Oh it's A'll no be a robber's wife
Nor will A dee by your penknife

For A hae brither in yon tree
Gin ye kill me then he'll kill ye

Come tell tae me yer brither's name
My brither's name it is Babylon

Oh sister hae I dune this ill tae ye
Hae A dune this dreadfu ill tae ye

An it's he's taen out his wee penknife
An it's thair he's taen his ain life

Song Notes

I learned this song from my mother who had learned it as a skipping rope game as a child in Lochaber.

Help with language and pronunciation in the General Guide to Scots

Recorded by Dick Gaughan

Also recorded by

 

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Song Archive

Lyrics and music for songs sung by Dick Gaughan

Gaughan Website
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Song Index B
Bonnie Banks o Fordie