Dowie Dens of Yarrow

There was a lady in the north

You scarce would find her marrow

She was courted by nine gentlemen

And a plooboy lad fae Yarrow

Well, nine sat drinking at the wine

As oft they'd done afore O

And they made a vow amang themselves

Tae fight for her on Yarrow

And so he's come ower yon high, high hill

And doon by the den sae narrow

And there he spied nine armed men

Come tae fight wi' him on Yarrow

He says, "There's nine o' you and but one o' me

It's an unequal marrow"

But I'll fight ye a' noo one by one

On the Dowie Dens o' Yarrow

So it's three he slew and three withdrew

An' three he wounded sairly

'Til her brother, he came in beyond

And he wounded him maist foully

"Gae hame, gae hame, ye fause young man

And bring yer sister sorrow

For her ain true love lies pale and wan

On the Dowie Dens o' Yarrow”

"Oh mither, I hae dreamed a dream

A dream o' doul and sorrow

I dreamed I was pu'ing the heathery bells

On the Dowie Dens o' Yarrow"

"Oh daughter dear, I ken yer dream

And I doobt it will bring sorrow

For yer ain true love lies pale and wan

On the Dowie Dens o' Yarrow"

An' so she's run ower yon high, high hill

An' doon by the den sae narrow

And it's there she spied her dear lover John

Lyin' pale and deid on Yarrow

And so she's washed his face an' she's kaimed his hair

As aft she'd done afore O

And she's wrapped it 'roond her middle sae sma'

And she's carried him hame tae Yarrow

"Oh haud yer tongue, my daughter dear

What need for a' this sorrow?

I'll wed ye tae a far better man

Than the one who's slain on Yarrow"

"Oh faither, ye hae seven sons

And ye may wed them a' the morrow

But the fairest floo'er amang them a'

Was the plooboy lad fae Yarrow”

"Oh mother, mother mak my bed

And mak it saft and narrow

For my love died for me this day

And I'll die for him tomorrow"