Binorie- Mrs. Lyall (Aber) c.1907 Greig D
[From Greig-Duncan Folk Song Collection, Lyle and Shuldham-Shaw, version D. This is associated with the standard Scottish text, Child M from Aberdeenshire. One stanza with music appears in Bronson with the actual date (c.1907 was my guestimation).
R. Matteson 2018]
"Binorie" sung by Mrs. Lyall of Lyne of Skeene, Aberdeenshire, dated Nov. 7, 1907, collected by Duncan. Got her ballads from her mother who may have got them from her father also a singer and fiddler.
1. There was twa sisters lived in a bower,
Binorie, O and Binorie,
There was twa sisters lived in a bower,
Twas the bonny, bonny bowers o Binorie O.
2. There was a millert lad fell a-courtin' o them,
Binorie, O and Binorie,
There was a millert lad fell a-courtin' o them,
Twas the bonny millert lad o Binorie O.
3. He coortit the eldest wi' gay gold rings,
Binorie, O and Binorie,
But he coortit the youngest wi' far better things,
She was his dearest lassie o Binorie O.
4. "O sister, O sister will ye tak a walk,
Binorie, O and Binorie,
To hear the bonny blackbird whistle and the nightingale to sing,
By the bonny milldams o Binorie O?
5. They walk-ed up and they've walk-ed doon,
Binorie, O and Binorie,
Until that the eldest sister she dang the younger in,
To the deep milldams o Binorie O.
6. "O sister, O sister, if ye gie me your hand,
Binorie, O and Binorie,
I'll gie you my gowd and and a' that's my land,
But the bonnie millert o Binorie O."
7. "It wasna for your gay gold that I dang you in,
Binorie, O an' Binorie,
Because ye are sae fair, love, and I sae very grim (din),
Ye can drown in the dams o Binorie O."
8. She sailed up and she sailed doon,
Binorie, O and Binorie,
Till that she sank never to rise again,
In the deep milldams o Binorie O."
9. The millert's servant lassie cam doon to the dam,
Binorie, O and Binorie,
It was for some water to wash the millert's hands,
The bonny millert lad o Binorie, O.
10. "O millert, O millert, fat's this into your dam,
Binorie, O an' Binorie,
Some droont lady or your white swan,
Sailing up and doon the dams o Binorie O?"
11. Weel kent her by her green goon o silk,
Binorie O an' Binorie,
But better he kent her by her middle sae neat,
Twas his ain dearest lassie o Binorie O.
12. The young millert deid ere her green grave was made,
Binorie, O and Binorie,
The young millert deid ere her green grave was made,
She's his ain bonny lassie fae Binorie O.