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BROWN ADAM O wha wou'd wish the win' to blaw Or the green leaves fa' therewith; Or wha wad wish a leeler love Than Brown Adam the Smith! His hammer's o' the beaten gold, His study's o' the steel, His fingers white are my delite, He blows his bellows we[e]l. But they ha' banish'd him Brown Adam Frae father and frae mither, An' they ha' banish'd him Brown Adam Frae sister and frae brither; And they ha' banish'd [him] Brown Adam Frae the fow'r o a' his kin; An' he's bigger a bow'r I' the good green wood Between his lady an' him. O it fell once upon a day Brown Adam he thought lang, An' he wou'd to the green wood gang To hunt some venison. He's ta'en his bow his arm o'er, His bran' intill his han', And he is to the good green wood As fast as he cou'd gang. O he's shot up an' he's shot down The bird upo' the briar, An' he's sent it hame to his lady, Bade her be of good cheer. he's shot up an' he's shot down The bird upo' the thorn, And sent it hame to his lady, And hee'd be hame the morn. Whan he came till his lady's bow'r-door He stood a little foreby, And there he heard a fu' fa'se knight Temptin' his gay lady. O he's ta'en out a gay gold ring Had cost him mony a poun': O grant me love for love An' this sal be your own. I loo' Brown Adam well, she says, I wot sae does he me, An' I wou'd na gi' Brown Adam's love For nae fa'se knight I see. Out has he ta'en a purse of gold Was a' fu' to the string: Grant me but love for love, lady, An' a' this sal be thine. I loo' Brown Adam well, she says, An' I ken sae does he me, An' I wou'dna be your light leman For mair nor ye cou'd gie. Then out has he drawn his lang, lang bran' And he's flash'd it in her e'en: Now grant me love for love, lady, Or thro' you this sal gang. O sighing said that gay lady, Brown Adam tarrys lang; Then up it starts Brown Adam, Says, I'm just at your han'. He's gar'd him leave his bow, his bow, He's gar'd him leave his bran'; He's gar'd him leave a better pledge, Four fingers o' his right han'. Child #98 @love @English From Kinsley, Oxford Book of Ballads filename[ BRNADAM TUNE FILE: BRNADAM CLICK TO PLAY SOF oct97 |
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