Binorie- William Walker (Aber) c.1900 Carpenter

Binorie- William Walker (Aber) c.1900 Carpenter

[From James Madison Carpenter Collection (JMC/1/8/1/A, p. 11483). This version has the "oot-takin" ending with a varied 2nd refrain and is associated with the standard Scottish text of Child M also taken from Aberdeenshire.

R. Matteson 2018]

"Binorie," sung by William Walker (b. 1870) of Bonnykelly, New Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire; learned about 1900 from Alex McDonald.

1    Twa Scottish[1] sisters lived in a booer,
      Binorie O Binorie
The miller's bonnie laddie a-courtin' then came,
      By the bonnie milldams o Binorie.

2    He's courted the eldest wi' diamonds an' rings,
       Binorie O Binorie
He's courted the youngest wi' far better things,
      She's his ain bonnie lassie frae Binorie.

3   He's courted the eldest in her father's ha',
      Binorie, O Binorie
He's courted the youngest amon' the sheets sae sma',
       By the bonnie milldams o Bilnorie O.

4 "O sister, O sister, gin ye'll tak a walk,
       Binorie, O Binorie
Ye'll hear the bonnie blackbirds a whistlin' ower their tunes,
An' ye'll see the bonnie miller o Binorie."

5. "O sister, O sister, I will tak a walk,
       Binorie, O Binorie
I will hear the bonnie blackbirds a whistlin' ower their tunes,
But I'll nae see the bonnie miller o Binorie."

5. They've walked up, and they've walked doon,
       Binorie, O Binorie
They've walked doon by yon bonnie plantain side,
An' doon to the dams o Binorie.

6. They've walked up, an' they've walked doon,
       Binorie, O Binorie
Until the eldest did ding the youngest in,
Tee the bonnie milldams o Binorie.

7. "O sister, O sister, if you'll tak my hand,
      Binorie O Binorie
Ye'll get a part o my gowd an' a part o my land,
And ye'll get the bonnie miller o Binorie.

8. "It wanna for your gowd that I dang you in,
      Binorie O Binorie
Because ye are sae fair an' I'm sae very din,
You can droon in the dams o Binorie."

9   She floated up, an' she floated doon,
      Binorie O Binorie
She sank tae the bottom ne'er to rise again,
She's his ain bonnie lassie frae Binorie.

10. The miller's servant girlie went oot tae the dam,
      Binorie O Binorie
Twas for some water to wash the miller's hands,
Frae the bonnie milldams o Binorie.

11. "O miller, miller, there's fishes in your dam,
      Binorie, O Binorie
Or there is a young lady or else your white swan,
Swimmin' up an' doon the dams o Binorie."

12. They fished up, an' they fished doon,
      Bilnorie O Bilnorie
Until they got her on a stane,
She's his ain bonnie lassie frae Binorie.

13. He didna ken her by her gowden yellow hair,
      Binorie O Binorie
But weel did he ken her by the gowden rings he gae her,
She's his ain bonnie lassie frae Binorie.

14. Mony's the ane was at her oot-takin',
   Binorie, O Binorie
An' the bonnie miller laddie died at her grave makin'
She's his ain bonnie lassie frae Binorie.
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1. In the music MS: "Twa courted sisters. . ."