Ewan MacColl — The Dowie Dens OYarrow - Child 214

There was a lady in the north I ne'er find her marrow She was courted by nine gentlemen And a plooboy lad frae Yarrow These nine sat drinking at the wine Sat drinking wine in Yarrow They made a vow bemongst themselves To fight for her on Yarrow As he walked up yon high, high hill And Doon been the houms o Yarrow There he saw nine armed men Come to fight wi’ him on Yarrow “There's nine o ye, there's ane o me It’s an unequal marrow But I'll fecht ye all ane by ane On the dowie dens o Yarrow.” And there they few and there he slew And there he wounded sorely Till her brother John came in beyond And pierced his heart most foully O father dear I dreamed a dream A dream o' duel and sorrow I dreamed I was pulling the heather bell On the Dowie Dens of Yarrow “Dochter dear, I read your dream I [dout?] it will bring sorrow For your lover John lies pale an wan On the dowie dens o Yarrow.” An she walked up yon high, high hill An doon be the houms o Yarrow There she saw her lover dear Lyin pale and dead on Yarrow Her hair it bein three quarters lang The colour it was yellow She's wrapped it roon his middle sae sma An bore him Doon tae Yarrow “O Faither dear, ye've seiven sons Ye may wad them aa the morrow For the fairest flouer amang them aa Wis the lad I loued on Yarrow.”