The Twa Sisters O' Binnorie

1. There were twa sisters sat in a bour, Binnorie, O Binnorie! There came a knight to be their wooer, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

2. He courted the eldest wi' glove and ring, Binnorie, O Binnorie! But he lo'ed the youngest aboon a' thing, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

3. He courted the eldest with broach and knife, Binnorie, O Binnorie! But he lo'ed the youngest aboon his life, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

4. The eldest she was vexed sair, Binnorie, O Binnorie! And sair envied her sister fair, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

5. The eldest said to the youngest ane, Binnorie, O Binnorie! 'Will ye go and see our father's ships come in?' By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

6. She's ta'en her by the lilly hand, Binnorie, O Binnorie! And led her down to the river-strand, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

7. The youngest stude upon a stane, Binnorie, O Binnorie! The eldest came and pushed her in, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

8. She took her by the middle sma', Binnorie, O Binnorie! And dashed her bonnie back to the jaw, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie/

9. 'O sister, sister, reach your hand!' Binnorie, O Binnorie! 'And ye shall be heir of half my land,' By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

10. 'O sister, I'll not reach my hand,' Binnorie, O Binnorie! 'And I'll be heir of all your land,' By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

11. 'Shame fa' the hand that I should take,' Binnorie, O Binnorie! 'It's twin'd me and my world's make,' By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

12. 'O sister, reach me but your glove,' Binnorie, O Binnorie! 'And sweet William shall be your love,' By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

13. 'Sink on, nor hope for hand or glove,' Binnorie, O Binnorie! 'And sweet William shall better be my love,' By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

14. 'Your cherry cheeks and your yellow hair,' Binnorie, O Binnorie! 'Garr'd me gang maiden evermair,' By the bonnie mill-dams o' Binnorie.

15. Sometimes she sunk, and sometimes she swam, Binnorie, O Binnorie! Until she came to the miller's dam, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

16. 'O father, father, draw your dam!' Binnorie, O Binnorie! 'There's either a mermaid or a milk-white swan,' By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

17. The miller hasted and drew his dam, Binnorie, O Binnorie! And there he found a drowned woman, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

18. You could not see her yellow hair, Binnorie, O Binnorie! For gowd and pearls that were sae rare, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

19. You could na see her middle sma', Binnorie, O Binnorie! Her gowden girdle was sae bra', By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

20. An' by there came a harper fine, Binnorie, O Binnorie! That harped to the king at dine, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

21. When he did look that lady upon, Binnorie, O Binnorie! He sigh'd and made a heavy moan, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

22. He's ta'en three locks o' her yallow hair, Binnorie, O Binnorie! And wi' them strung his harp sae fair, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

23. The first tune he did play and sing, Binnorie, O Binnorie! Was, 'Farewell to my father the king,' By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

24. The nextin tune that he play'd syne, Binnorie, O Binnorie! Was, 'Farewell to my mother the queen,' By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

25. The lasten tune that he play'd then, Binnorie, O Binnorie! Was, 'Wae to my sister, fair Ellen!' By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

[Annotations: 8.3: 'jaw,' wave. 11.3: 'my world's make,' my earthly mate.]