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Richie Story

No: 232; variant: 232G

  1. THERE were five ladies lived in a bouer, Lived in a bouer at Cumbernaldie; The fairest and youngest o them a' Has fa'n in love wi her footman-laddie.
  2. 'Here is a letter to you, ladye, Here is a letter to you, ladye; The Earl o Hume has written doun That he will be your footman-laddie.'
  3. 'I want nane o his service, Ritchie, I want nane o his service, Ritchie; For I've made a vow, and I'll keep it true, That I'll wed nane but thee, Ritchie.'
  4. 'O that canna be, ladye, O that canna be, ladye; For I've neither house nor land, Nor ought suiting ye, ladye.'
  5. 'Livd ye on yonder hill, Ritchie, Livd ye on yonder hill, Ritchie, There's my hand, I'm at your command, Marry me whan ye will, Ritchie!'
  6. This boy he went to his bed, It was a' to try this fair ladye; But she went up the stair to him: 'Ye maun leave your comrades, Ritchie.
  7. 'To the Borders we maun gang, Ritchie, To the Borders we maun gang, Ritchie, For an my auld father he get word, It's you he will cause hang, Ritchie.'
  8. 'To the Borders we'll na gang, ladye, To the Borders we'll na gang, ladye; For altho your auld father got word, It's me he dare na hang, ladye.'
  9. As they passed by her mither's bouer, O but her sisters they were sorry! They bade her tak aff the robes o silk, And muck the byres wi Ritchie Storry.
  10. Whan they cam to yon hie hill, Dear vow, but the lady she was sorry! She looked oure her left showther---- 'O an I war in bonny Cumbernaldie!'
  11. 'O are na ye sorry now, ladye, O are na ye sorry now, ladye, For to forsake the Earl o Hume, And follow me, your footman-laddie?'
  12. 'How could I be sorry, Ritchie, How could I be sorry, Ritchie? Such a gudely man as you, And the lot that lies afore me, Ritchie.'
  13. As they rode up through Edinburgh toun, Her gowd watch hang doun sae gaudie; Monie a lord made her a bow, But nane o them thoucht she was Ritchie's ladye.
  14. Whan they cam to Ritchie's yetts, Dear vow, but the music playd bonnie! There were four-and-twenty gay ladies To welcome hame Richard Storry's ladye.
  15. He called for a priest wi speed, A priest wi speed was soon ready, And she was na married to the Earl of Hume, But she blesses the day she got Richard Storry.
  16. A coach and six they did prepare, A coach and six they did mak ready, A coach and six they did prepare, And she blesses the day made her Ritchie's lady.