Blue Flowers and Yellow- Buchan 1828 Child B a.
Version B- Child 25; Willie's Lyke-Wake
a. Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, I, 185.
b. Christie, Traditional Ballad Airs, I, 120.
1 'O Willie my son, what makes you sae sad?'
As the sun shines over the valley
'I lye sarely sick for the love of a maid.'
Amang the blue flowers and the yellow
2 'Were she an heiress or lady sae free,
As the sun shines over the valley
That she will take no pity on thee?
Amang the blue flowers and the yellow
3 'O Willie, my son, I'll learn you a wile,
As the sun shines over the valley
How this fair maid ye may beguile.
Amang the blue flowers and the yellow
4 'Ye'll gie the principal bellman a groat,
As the sun shines over the valley
And ye'll gar him cry your dead lyke-wake.'
Amang the blue flowers and the yellow
5 Then he gae the principal bellman a groat,
As the sun shines over the valley
He bade him cry his dead lyke-wake.
Amang the blue flowers and the yellow
6 This maiden she stood till she heard it a',
As the sun shines over the valley
And down frae her cheeks the tears did fa.
Amang the blue flowers and the yellow
7 She is hame to her father's ain bower:
As the sun shines over the valley
'I'll gang to yon lyke-wake ae single hour.'
Amang the blue flowers and the yellow
8 'Ye must take with you your ain brither John;
As the sun shines over the valley
It's not meet for maidens to venture alone.'
Amang the blue flowers and the yellow
9 'I'll not take with me my brither John,
As the sun shines over the valley
But I'll gang along, myself all alone.'
Amang the blue flowers and the yellow
10 When she came to young Willie's yate,
As the sun shines over the valley
His seven brithers were standing thereat.
Amang the blue flowers and the yellow
11 Then they did conduct her into the ha,
As the sun shines over the valley
Amang the weepers and merry mourners a'.
Amang the blue flowers and the yellow
12 When she lifted up the covering sae red,
As the sun shines over the valley
With melancholy countenance to look on the dead,
Amang the blue flowers and the yellow
13 He's taen her in his arms, laid her gainst the wa,
As the sun shines over the valley
Says, 'Lye ye here, fair maid, till day.'
Amang the blue flowers and the yellow
14 'O spare me, O spare me, but this single night,
As the sun shines over the valley
And let me gang hame a maiden sae bright.'
Amang the blue flowers and the yellow
15 'Tho all your kin were about your bower,
As the sun shines over the valley
Ye shall not be a maiden ae single hour.
Amang the blue flowers and the yellow
16 'Fair maid, ye came here without a convoy,
As the sun shines over the valley
But ye shall return wi a horse and a boy.
Amang the blue flowers and the yellow
17 'Ye came here a maiden sae mild,
As the sun shines over the valley
But ye shall gae hame a wedded wife with child.'
Amang the blue flowers and the yellow
_________________
Blue Flowers and Yellow; [From: Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, I, 185.]
O Willie my son, what makes you sae sad?
As the sun shines over the valley;
I lye sarely sick for the love of a maid,
Amang the blue flowers and the yellow.
Were she an heiress or lady sae free,
As the sun shines over the valley,
That she will take no pity on thee,
Amang the blue flowers and the ytllow?
O Willie, my son, I'll learn you a wile,
As the sun shines over the valley;
How this fair maid ye may beguile,
Amang the blue flowers and the yellow.
Ye'll gi'e the principal bellman a groat,
As the sun shines over the valley;
And ye'll gar him cry your dead lyke wake,
Amang the blue flowers and the yellow.
Then he gae the principal bellman a groat,
As the sun shines over the valley;
He bade him cry his dead lyke wake,
Amang the blue flowers and the yellow.
This maiden she stood till she heard it a',
As the sun shines over the valley;
And down frae her cheeks the tears did fa',
Amang the blue flowers and the yellow.
She is hame to her father's ain bower,
As the sun shines over the valley;
I'll gang to yon lyke wake ae single hour,
Amang the blue flowers and the yellow.
Ye must take with you, your ain brither John,
As the sun shines over the valley;
It's not meet for maidens to venture alone,
Amang the blue flowers and the yellow.
I'll not take with me my brither John,
As the sun shines over the valley;
But I'll gang along, myself all alone,
Amang the blue flowers and the yellow
When she came to young Willie's yate,
As the sun shines over the valley;
His seven brithers were standing thereat,
Amang the blue flowers and the yellow.
Then they did conduct her into the ha',
As the sun shines over the valley;
Amang the weepers and merry mourners a',
Amang the blue flowers and the yellow.
When she lifted up the covering sae red,
As the sun shines over the valley;
With melancholy countenance to look on the dead,
Amang the blue flowers and the yellow;
He's taen her in his arms, laid her 'gainst the wa',
As the sun shines over the valley;
Says, Lye ye here, fair maid, till day,
Amang the blue flowers and the yellow.
O spare me, O spare me, but this single night,
As the sun shines over the valley;
And let me gang hame a maiden sae bright,
Amang the blue flowers and the yellow.
Tho' all your kin were about your bower,
As the sun shines over the valley;
Ye shall not be a maiden ae single hour,
Amang the blue flowers and the yellow.
Fair maid, ye came here without a convoy,
As the sun shines over the valley;
But ye shall return wi' a horse and a boy,
Amang the blue flowers and the yellow.
Ye came here a maiden sae mild,
As the sun shines over the valley;
But ye shall gae hame a wedded wife with child,
Amang the blue flowers and the yellow.
BLUE FLOWERS AND YELLOW Page 185
It may be said of Willie, as was said of Sir James the Rose, that,—
"Lang had he woo'd, lang she refused,
In seeming scom and pride;
Yet aft her eyes confessed the love,
Her fearful words deny'd;"
till his father, a wylie old churl, proposed a novel stratagem to prove her love, and to get her entangled in a snare prepared for her. It was no less successful than curious; it had the desired effect, and Willie gained his heart's desire.