Binorie- Mrs Watson Gray (Moray) 1931 Carpenter
[From the James Madison Carpenter Collection, JMC/1/2/2/M, pp. 05893-05895. This text is very similar to Scott's version, Child C, (Walter Scott, Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, 1803) most of which Scott took from a traditional singer, Miss Charlotte Brookes. The ending which Scott took from Mrs. Brown's version (Child B) is different which shows that the whole was not copied directly from Scott's published version. The similarities are obvious and a recording was not made-- indicating the text was sent in. The last refrain (line 4) does not vary as nearly all the other traditional versions in the Carpenter Collection.
R. Matteson 2018]
"Binorie" from Mrs Watson Gray, Corner House, East Street, Fochabers, Scotland, 1931. Partly from her sister, Helen Mackaye.
1 There were two sisters sat in a bower,
Binorie, O Binorie,
There cam a knicht to be their wooer,
By the bonny milldams o Binorie.
2 He courted the eldest with glove and ring,
Binorie, O Binorie,
But he lo'ed the youngest abeen a' thing,
By the bonny milldams of Binorie.
3 The eldest she was vexed sair,
Binorie, O Binorie
An' much envoyed (envied) her sister fair,
By the bonny milldams of Binorie.
4 The auldest said tee the youngest ane,
Binorie, O Binorie,
"Will ye see wir father's ships comin' in?"
By the bonny milldams of Binorie.
5 She's taen her by the lily hand,
Binorie, O Binorie
An' led her doon tee the river strand.
By the bonny mill-dams of Binorie
6 The youngest stood upon a stane,
Binorie, O Binorie
The auldest cam an' dang her in,
By the bonnie milldams o Binorie.
7 "O sister, O sister, reach yer hand,
Binorie, O Binorie
An' ye shall be heir o half my land,
By the bonnie mill-dams of Binorie."
8 "O sister, I'll not reach my hand,
Binorie, O Binorie
An' I'll be heir o a' yer land.
By the bonnie milldams of Binorie.
9 "Shame fa' the hand that I should take,
Binorie, O Binorie
It's twined me an' my world's make,
By the bonnie milldams of Binorie."
10 "O sister, sister, reach me your glove,
Binorie, O Binorie
And sweet William s'all be your love,
By the bonnie milldams of Binorie."
11 "Sink on, nor hope for hand or glove,
Binnorie, O Binnorie
And sweet William s'all better be my love,
By the bonnie milldams of Binorie.
12 "Yer cherry cheeks an' yellow hair
Binorie, O Binorie
Has garred me gang maiden evermair,
By the bonnie milldams of Binorie."
13 Sometimes she sunk, and sometimes she swam,
Binorie, O Binorie
Until she came tae the miller's dam.
By the bonnie milldams of Binorie."
14 "O father, father, draw your dam!
Binorie, O Binorie
There's either a mermaid or a milk-white swan,
By the bonnie milldams of Binorie."
15 The miller hasted an' drew his dam,
Binorie, O Binorie
An' there he found a droon't woman.
By the bonnie milldams of Binorie.
16. Upon her fingers lily white,
Binorie, O Binorie
The jewel ringd were shining bright,
By the bonnie milldams of Binorie.
17 You couldna see her yellow hair,
Binorie, O Binorie
For gowd an' pearls a' sae rare.
By the bonny milldams of Binorie.
18 You couldna see her middle sma,
Binorie, O Binorie
Her gowden girdle was sae braw,
By the bonnie milldams of Binorie.
19 You couldna see her lily feet,
Binorie, O Binorie
Her gowden fringes were sae deep,
By the bonnie milldams of Binorie.
20 It was there cam a harper fine,
Binorie, O Binorie
Wha harped the nobles when they dine,
By the bonny milldams of Binorie
21 An' when he looked that lady on,
Binorie, O Binorie
He sighed and made a heavy moan,
By the bonny milldams of Binorie.
22 He's made a harp of her breistbane,
Binorie, O Binorie,
Whase soons wad melt a hairt o stane,
By the bonnie milldams o Binorie.
23 He's ta'en three locks o her yellow hair,
Binorie, O Binorie
An' wi' them strung his harp sae rare.
By the bonnie milldams of Binorie
24 He went intae her father's hall,
Binorie, O Binorie
An' he played his harp before them a',
By the bonnie milldams of Binorie.
25 At first the harp played lood an' clear,
Binorie, O Binorie
Fareweel, my father an' mither dear,
By the bonnie milldams of Binorie.
26 Neist when the harp began to sing,
Binorie, O Binorie
Twas fareweel William, said the string,
By the bonnie milldams of Binorie.
27 An' syne as plain as plain could be,
Binorie, O Binorie
There sits my sister wha droon't me,
By the bonnie milldams of Binorie.