Flower o Northumberland- Davidson (Aber) 1908 Duncan C
[From Grieg Duncan C, the informant, born Jessie Duncan is probably a relative of Rev. Duncan's. Also given as a single penultimate stanza with music from James Madison Carpenter Collection, JMC/1/11/15, Disc Side 015, 04:28 from Mrs Jessie Davidson of Willow Cottage, Tugnet, Speybay, Morayshire Scotland, 1931. She was born 17 September, 1863 in Dufftown.
On this bonnie lassie her mother did smile,
"O but your love it was easily won,
You are nae the first that the Scotch has beguiled.
Welcome back to Northumberland."
R. Matteson 2018]
The Fair Flower o Northumberland- sung by Mrs Jessie Davidson, Willow Cottage, Tugnet, Speybay, Morayshire in 1908 and again in 1931.
1. Ae Scottish prisoner was makin' his moan,
"O gin I had but a lady to woo,
O gin her love it was easily won,
I wid mak her a lady, and that I would do."
2. A provost's daughter was walkin' alone,
O but her love it was easily won,
She heard this Scottish prisoner makin' his moan,
And she the fair Flooer o' Northumberland.
3. She hied her to her father's stable,
O but her love it was easily won,
And she's stown a steed baith swift an' able,
To carry then baith to fair Scotlan'.
4. As they rode o'er the first Scottish moor,
He says, "O but your love was easily won,
Get ye back home [ye brazen-face hoor][1],
Get ye back to Northumberland.
5. "Hae pity on me as I had on thee,
O, though my love it was easily won,
Fat wye I tak pity on you,
For I've a wife and bairnies three,
To care for them in auld Scotland.
6. A cook in your kitchen I wid be,
O, though my love it was easily won."
"My lady has no use for such workmaids as thee,
So go get ye back to Northumberland.
7. Laith was he this young lady to kill,
O, though her love it was easily won,
So he bought her an auld horse and hired an auld man,
And sent her safe bak to Northumberland.
8. On this bonnie lassie her father did froon,
"O but your love it was easily won!
Ye followed a rebel, a wretch was he,
And you the fair Flower o' Northumberland."
9. On this bonnie lassie her mother did smile,
"O but your love it was easily won,
But ye're nae the first that the Scots hae beguiled,
An' ye're welcome bak to Northumberland."
10. "Ye sanna[2] want siller, an ye sanna want fee,
O, though your love it was easily won,
An' ye sanna want gowd to buy another man,
An' yeou're aye the fair Flooer o' Northumberland."
_______________________
1. probably deleted intentionally to avoid the word "whore" (hoor).