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The provost's ae dochter wis walkin her lane
O but her luve it wis easy won
Whan she spied a Scots prisoner makin his mane
An she wis the flouer of Northumberlan
"O, gin a lassie wad borrow me
O gin her luve it wis easy won
A wad mak her a ladie o heich degree
Gin she'd lowse me out frae my prison sae strang"
Sae it's she's dune her doun tae her faither's guid stocks
O but her luve it wis easy won
An she's stolen the best keys thair for mony's the brave lock
For tae lowse him out frae his prison sae strang
An it's she's dune her doun tae her faither's guid stables
O but her luve it wis easy won
An she's stolen the best horse that wis baith fleet an able
For tae cairry thaim owre tae bonnie Scotlan
Bit as thae were ridin across thon Scots muirs
He cried, "O but yer luve it wis easy won
Get ye doun frae my horse ye're a brazen-faced hour
Altho ye're the flouer o Northumberlan"
"It's cook in yer kitchen A shairly will be
Altho my luve it wis easy won
For A cannae gae back tae my ain countrie
Altho A'm the flouer o Northumberlan"
"It's cook in my kitchen ye cannae weill be
O but yer luve it wis easy won
For my ladie she winnae hae sairvants like ye
An ye'll need tae gae hame tae Northumberlan"
"For A hae a wife in my ain countrie
O but yer luve it was easy won
An A cannae dae naethin wi a lassie like ye
An ye'll need tae gae back tae Northumberlan"
An, sae laith wis he thon lassie tae tine,
O but her luve it wis easy won
He's hiret an auld horse an he's hiret an auld man
Tae cairry her hame tae Northumberlan
Bit whan she got thair her faither did froun an said
"O but yer luve it was easy won
Tae gang wi a Scotsman whan ye're barely saxteen
An ye were the flouer o Northumberlan"
Bit whan she gaed ben her mither did smile an said
"O but yer luve it was easy won
But ye're no the first that thon Scots has beguilet
An ye're walcome back hame tae Northumberlan"
"For ye winnae want breid an ye winnae want wine
O but yer luve it was easy won
An ye winnae want siller tae buy a man wi
An ye're aye the fair flouer o Northumberlan"
The meanings of many Scots words can be inferred from context or similarity to English words with a common root. For the more difficult used in this song, here's a brief glossary.
More help in the General Guide to Scots
No More Forever (1972)
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Fair Flouer o Northumberland
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