Lord Dingwall- grandfather (Aber) 1881 Christie
[From W. Christie, Traditional Ballad Airs, Volume 2, 1881. His notes follow,
R. Matteson 2018]
This Air was arranged from the singing of the Editor's paternal grandfather, and was sung by him to "Aye the Birks a-bowing." It has a resemblance in some of its phases to the next two, and shows how some of the Buchan Airs mingle, and appear to be from the same original. The Ballad sung to the Air was somewhat like the one given by Mr Buchan, which is here epitomized with some alterations. See "Ballads of the North', Vol. 1. p. 204.
Db. "Aye the Birks a-bowing" or, "Lord Dingwall."
1. O we were sisters, sisters seven,
A-bowing down, a-bowing down;
The fairest women under heaven,
And aye the birks a-bowing.
2. And we kiest kevels us amang,
A-bowing down, a-bowing down,
Wha wou'd now to the greenwood gang,
And aye the birks a-bowing.
3. A' for to pu' the finest flowers,
A-bowing down, a-bowing down;
To put around our summer bowers,
And aye the birks a-bowing.
4. I was the youngest o' them a',
A-bowing down, a-bowing down;
And this fortune did me befa',
And aye the birks a-bowing.
5. Unto the greenwood I did gang,
A-bowing down, a-bowing down;
And pu'd the nuts as they down hang,
And aye the birks a-bowing,
6. I hadna stay'd an hour but ane,
A-bowing down, a bowing down;
Till I met wi' a gay young man,
And aye the birks a-bowing.
7. We pu'd the nuts sae late and lang,
A-bowing down, a-bowing down;
Till the evening set, and the birds they sang,
And aye the birks a-bowing.
8. He gae to me at our parting,
A-bowing down, a-bowing down;
A chain of gold, and gay gold ring,
And aye the birks a-bowing.
9. And three locks o' his yellow hair,
A-bowing down, a-bowing down;
And bade me keep them for evermair,
And aye the birks a-bowing.
10. Then for to show I make nae lee,
A-bowing down, a-bowing down,
Look in my trunk and ye will see,
And aye the birks a-bowing.
11. His mother to the trunk did go,
A-bowing down, a-bowing down,
To see if that were true or no,
And aye the birks a-bowing.
12. And aye she sought, and aye she flang,
A-bowing down, a-bowing down,
Till these four things came to her hand,
And aye the birks a-bowing.
13. Then she ran to her son Lord Dingwall,
A-bowing down, a-bowing down,
And said, "My son, ye'll quickly tell,
And aye the birks a-bowing.
14. Ye'll quickly tell to me this thing,
A-bowing down, a-bowing down,
What did you wi' my wedding ring?
And aye the birks a-bowing."
15. "O mother dear, I'll tell nae lee,
A-bowing down, a-bowing down,
I gave it to a gay ladie,
And aye the birks a-bowing.
16. I would gi'e a' my ha's and towers,
A-bowing down, a-bowing down,
I had this ladie within my bowers,
And aye the birks a-bowing."
17. "Keep well, keep well, your lands and strands,
A-bowing down, a-bowing down;
Ye hae that ladie within your hands,
And aye the birks a-bowing.
18. Now, my son, to your bower ye'll go,
A-bowing down, a-bowing down;
And comfort your ladie, she's full of woe,
And aye the birks a-bowing."