Binorie- Mrs. Mary Thain (Aber) 1870 Carpenter
[From James Madison Carpenter Collection, JMC/1/5/1/T, p. 08721. Thain's version is an older fragment similar to Walker's version and Child M. Stanza 6 is two stanzas combines (5 lines). I've added some text in brackets to make the end more complete.
R. Matteson 2018]
"Binorie," sung by Mrs. Mary Thain of Castle St., Banff, learned before 1870 from Kate McClennan.
1 He courted the one with a gay gowd ring,
Binorie and Benorie
He courted the youngest with a far better thing,
She's the bonnie millert's lass o Binorie.
2. O sister, O sister, it's we'll tak a walk,
Binorie and Benorie,
And we'll hear the blackbirds a whistlin ower the tunes,
Bet we winna see the bonnie millert frae Binorie.
3. They've walked up by bonnie plantain side,
Binorie and Benorie
The eldest dang the youngest into the dam,
An' doon to the dams o Binorie.
4. O sister, O sister, it's ye'll take my hand,
Binorie and Benorie
Ye'll have half-pairt o my gowd an' the third-pairt o my land,
And ye'll be the millert's lass o Binorie.
5. "It wisna for that that I dang you in,
Binorie and Benorie
Because ye wis sae fair an' I sae dun,
An' ye'll droon in the dams o Binorie.
6. The millert's servant lass gaed oot tae the dam,
Binorie and Benorie
It wis for some water to wash the millert's hand;
"Ye'll get a swan or a white woman
Drowned in the dams o Binorie."
7. They fished up, an' they fished doon,
Binorie and Benorie
[Until they got her on a stane,
She's his ain bonnie lassie frae Binorie.]
8. [Mony's the ane was at her oot-takin',
Binorie and Benorie]
The miller lad died at her grave makin'
She's his ain bonnie lassie o Binorie.