Hi,

I want to thank Steve Gardham and Steve Roud for sending a copy of the Scottish broadside dated 1820s from the British Library. Here's a copy of the text- an image of the broadside is on my site here: http://www.bluegrassmessengers.com/5-a-growing-the-trees-they-do-grow-high.aspx

Richie

    "My Bonnie Laddie's Young" -Scottish Broadside, c. 1820s; ref. number 1871 f13 60a- British Library

    1. The trees they are high and the leaves are green
    The days they are awa that you and I have seen
    The cauld winter nights I maun lie my lane,
    My bonnie laddie's young but he is growing.

    2. Father, O father you have done me much wrong,
    For you have married me to a lad that is young,
    For he's scarce twelve and I am but thirteen
    My bonny laddie's young but he's a growing.

    3. O daughter, O daughter I have done you no wrong,
    For I have married you to a rich lord's son,
    And if you will wait, his bride you will be,
    Your bonny laddie is young he is growing.

    4. She sewed to him a shirt of Hollands fine,
    And aye as she sew'd the tears they ran down,
    And ay' as she sewed the tears they ran down,
    My bonny laddie is lang lang a growing.

    5. Father, O father if you think it fit,
    Weel send him to this high college another year yet,
    And I'll cut of my yellow hair all above my brow,
    And I'll go to the high college with my laddie now.

    6. It happened on a day and a sun shiny[1] day,
    Here going to a green wood to sport and to play,
    And what they did there I never will declare,
    But she never complained on his growing.

    7. At the age of thirteen he was a married man,
    At the age of fourteen they had a young son,
    At the age of fifteen his grave was growing green,
    And that put and end to his growing.

1. original "shinny"