"Inverey" (Child 263) as sung by Jean Redpath in 1962:


Doon Deeside cam' Inverey whistlin' and playin'?
And he was at Brackley's yetts ere the day was dawin'.
"Oh, are ye there, Brackley, and are ye within? ?
There's shairp swords noo at your yetts, will gar your bluid spin."

"Then rise up, my baron, and turn back your kye,?
For the lads frae Drumwharrin are drivin' them by."
"How can I rise up, and how can I gyang?
For whuar I hae ae man I fear they hae ten."

?"Then rise up, Betsy Gordon, and gie me my gun,
And tho I gyang out, love, sure I'll never return.
Come, kiss me, my Betsy, nor think I'm tae blame,
?But against three and thirty, wae is me, what is yin?"

When Brackley was mounted and he rade on his horse,
A bonnier baron ne'er rade ower a course.
Twa gallanter Gordons did never sword draw;
"But against three and thirty, wae is me what is twa."

Wi' their dirks an' their swords they did him surroon'.?
They've killed bonny Brackley wi' monys the woun'.
Fae the heid o' the Dee, tae the banks o' the Spey,
?The Gordons will mourn him and ban Inverey.

"Oh cam ye by Brackley, or cam ye by here?
?Saw ye his guid lady a-rievin' her hair?"
"Oh I cam by Brackley's yetts and I cam by here,
?And I saw his gid lady, she was makin' gid cheer.

"She was rantin' an' dancin' an' singin' for joy.
?She vowed that very night she would feast Inverey!?
She laughed wi' him, danced wi' him, welcomed him ben.?
She was kind till the villain that had slain her gid man."

Through hedges and ditches ye canna be sure.?
Through the wuids o' Glentower ye maun slap in an oor.?
Then up spak' the babe on his nanny's knee,?
"It's afore I'm a man, avenged I'll be."


One of the most powerful ballads, not so well known as the "standards," with not a word wasted. The "babe," supernaturally swearing vengeance, is a brilliant and terrifying conclusion.

Of course, the tune enhances it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXbMzA2RDcU