Child Waters
No: 63; variant: 63D
- Lord John rose, put on his clothes,
Sought neither stockens nor shoon,
An between the ha and the stable
He made not a step but one.
- 'O open, open, to me, Burd Ellen,
O open an let me in:'
'O yes, O yes, will I, Lord John,
But not till I can win;
O yes, will I, Lord John,' she says,
'But I'm lyin wi your young son.'
- He's taen the door wi his foot,
An he kepped it wi his knee;
He made the door of double deals
In splinders soon to flee.
- 'An askin ye'll grant me, Lord John,
An askin ye'll grant me;
May the meanest maid about the place
Bring a glass o water to me?'
- 'O hold your tongue, Burd Ellen,' he said,
'Lat a' your askins be;
For the best maid about the house
Shall bring a glass o wine to thee.
- 'An the best bed about it a',
For my young son an thee;
My mother and my ae sister
Sal bear you company.
- 'Your marriage an your kirkin day
They sal be both in ane,
An a' these ha's an bowers, Burd Ellen,
They sal be yours an mine.'