There were five sons and two were twins
There were five sons in Yarrow
And they did fecht for their ain true love
In the dowie dens o Yarrow.

O mither dear I hae dreamed a dream
A dream o dule and sorrow
For I dreamp't I was puin heather bells
In the dowie dens o Yarrow.

O dochter dear I reid yer dream
Yer dream o dule and sorrow
For your true love Jhone lies pale an wan
In the dowie dens o Yarrow.

She's sought him up an she's sought him doon
She's sought him braid and narrow
And it's there in a lirk by yon water side
She has found him slain in Yarrow.

Noo her hair it was baith lythe and lang
And the colour o it was yallow
She's roud it roon his middle sma
And she's bourn him hame frae Yarrow

She's washed his face and she's kaimed his hair
as aft she'd done afore o
And she's rowed him in his winding sheet
While the tears ran doon for sorrow

And sine she's heid her ouwr the lee
Out ouwr the lee tae Yarrow
And in the deepest poat in yon boskie den
She has drooned hersel in Yarrow.