Binorie- David Edwards (Aber) c.1880 Carpenter
[This version is mysteriously missing the ending-- from the James Madison Carpenter Collection, JMC/1/11/198, Disc Side 192, 01:41,
R. Matteson 2018]
"Binorie," sung by David Edwards of 84 High st. Cuninestown, Aberdeenshire. Learned in the Cornhill district about 1880.
1. There wis twa bonnie sisters lived in a glen,
Binorie, O Binorie,
The miller laddie cam a courtin' them,
The bonnie miller lad o Binorie.
2. He courted the eldest wi' a gay gowd ring,
Binorie, O Binorie,
But he courted the youngest wi a far better thing,
The bonnie miller's lass o Binorie, O.
3. "O sister, O sister, come an' tak a walk,
Binorie, aye O Binorie,
You'll maybe hear the blackbirds whistle ower his tune,
Or see the bonnie miller's laddie o Binorie."
4. They walked up and they walked down,
Binorie, O Binorie,
Till the elder dang the younger into the dam,
The deep milldam o Binorie.
5. O sister, dear sister, come lend me your hand,
Binorie, O Binorie
"I'll gie you my yellow gowd, likewise my land,
And the bonnie miller lad o Binorie.
6. "It wisna for your yellow gowd that I dang ye in,
Binorie O Binorie
But ye are sae fair and I am sae very din,
You're the bonnie miller's lass o Binorie."
7. She swimmed up, and she swimmed down,
Binorie O Binorie,
She sank to the bottom like a stone,
In the deep milldam o Binorie.
8. The miller's servant girl, she's came out to the dam,
Binorie, O Binorie
It was for some water to wash the miller's hand,
The bonnie miller lad o Binorie.
9. "O miller, dear miller, there's fish in your dam,
Binorie, O Binorie
For the white swan he swims rarely up an' down
In the deep milldam o Binorie."