Binnorie (The Twa Sisters)

There were twa sisters sat in a bower;
 Binnorie, O Binnorie
 There came a knight to be their wooer.
 By the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie
 He courted the eldest with glove and ring,
 Binnorie, O Binnorie
 But he lo'ed the youngest aboon a' thing.
 By the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie
 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 of Binnorie
 The eldest she was vex-ed sair,
 Binnorie, O Binnorie
 And sore envied her sister fair.
 By the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie
 The eldest said to the youngest ane,
 Binnorie, O Binnorie
 Go and see our father's ships come in
 By the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie
 She's ta'en her by her lily hand,
 Binnorie, O Binnorie
 And led her down to the river strand.
 By the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie
 The youngest stood upon a stane,
 Binnorie, O Binnorie
 The eldest came and pushed her in.
 By the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie
 'O sister, sister, reach your hand,
 Binnorie, O Binnorie
 And ye shall be heir o' half my land.'
 By the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie
 '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 of Binnorie
 'O sister, reach me but your glove,
 Binnorie, O Binnorie
 And sweet William shall be your love.'
 By the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie
 'Sink on, nor hope for hand or glove,
 Binnorie, O Binnorie
 Sweet William shall better be my love.'
 By the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie
 Sometimes she sunk, and sometimes she swam,
 Binnorie, O Binnorie
 Until she came to the miller's dam.
 By the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie
 The miller's daughter was baking bread
 Binnorie, O Binnorie
 And gave her water as she had need.
 By the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie
 'O father, father, draw your dam,
 Binnorie, O Binnorie
 There's either a mermaid or a milk-white swan.'
 By the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie
 The miller hasted and drew his dam,
 Binnorie, O Binnorie
 And there he found a drowned woman.
 By the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie
 Ye could not see her yellow hair,
 Binnorie, O Binnorie
 For gowd and pearls that were sae rare.
 By the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie
 A famous harper passing by,
 Binnorie, O Binnorie
 The sweet pale face he chanced to spy.
 By the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie
 And when he looked that ladye on,
 Binnorie, O Binnorie
 He sighed and made a heavy moan.
 By the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie
 He made a harp o' her breast-bone,
 Binnorie, O Binnorie
 Whose sounds would melt a heart of stone.
 By the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie
 The strings he framed of her yellow hair,
 Binnorie, O Binnorie
 There notes made sad the listening ear.
 By the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie
 He brought it to her father's hall,
 Binnorie, O Binnorie
 There was the court assembled all.
 By the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie
 He laid the harp upon a stone,
 Binnorie, O Binnorie
 And straight it began to play alone.
 By the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie
 'O yonder sits my father, the king,
 Binnorie, O Binnorie
 And yonder sits my mother, the queen.'
 By the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie
 'And yonder stands my brother Hugh,
 Binnorie, O Binnorie
 And beside him my William, sweet and true.'
 By the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie
 But the last tune that the harp played then,
 Binnorie, O Binnorie
 Was 'Woe to my sister, false Helen!'
 By the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie