Hi, From: James Madison Carpenter Collection, JMC/1/8/1/B, p. 11501. This version resembles Walter Scott's version, Child C. "Bilnorie," sung by Peter Christie (b. 1870) of 21 Shore Road, Stonehaven, Kincardineshire about 1931. 1 There twa sisters lived in a booer, Bilnorie O Bilnorie There was a knicht to be their wooer, By the bonnie milldams o Bilnorie O. 2 He courted the eldest wi' glove an' ring, Bilnorie O Bilnorie But the youngest he loved abeen a' thing, By the bonnie milldams o Bilnorie O. 3 The eldest's heart was vexed saer, Bilnorie O Bilnorie An' she envied her sister dear By the bonnie milldams o Bilnorie O. 4 The eldest said to the youngest een, Bilnorie O Bilnorie Will ye gang an' see oor father's ships coming in, By the bonnie milldams o Bilnorie O? 5. She's ta'en her sister by the hand, Bilnorie O Bilnorie And led her by the river strand, By the bonnie milldams o Bilnorie O. 6. Her sister stood upon a steen, Bilnorie O Bilnorie And the eldest cam and shoved her in, By the bonnie milldams o Bilnorie O. 6. O sister, sister, reach your hand, Bilnorie O Bilnorie And ye shall be heir o' all your land, By the bonnie milldams o Bilnorie O. 7. "O sister, I'll not reach my hand, Bilnorie O Bilnorie And I shall be heir o' all your land, By the bonnie milldams o Bilnorie O. 8. O sister, sister, reach your glove, Bilnorie O Bilnorie And Sweet William shall be your love, By the bonnie milldams o Bilnorie O. 9. O sister, I'll not reach my glove, Bilnorie O Bilnorie And Sweet William shall better be my love, By the bonnie milldams o Bilnorie O. 10 Sometimes she sank, sometimes she swam, Bilnorie O Bilnorie Until she cam to the millet's dam, By the bonnie milldams o Bilnorie O. 11. The millet's dochter was bakin breid, Bilnorie O Bilnorie And gaed for water as she need, By the bonnie milldams o Bilnorie O. 11. "O father father, draw your dam, Bilnorie O Bilnorie There's a mermaid or a milk-white swan, By the bonnie milldams o Bilnorie O." 12. Her father hastened and drew the dam, Bilnorie O Bilnorie And there he found a drowned woman, By the bonnie milldams o Bilnorie O. 13. He couldna see her yellow hair, Bilnorie O Bilnorie For gowd and pearls hung to her ear, By the bonnie milldams o Bilnorie O. 14. He couldna see her lily feet, Bilnorie O Bilnorie Her golden girdle hung so deep, By the bonnie milldams o Bilnorie O. 15. "Sair will they be, whae'er they be, Bilnorie O Bilnorie The heart that lives to weep for thee, By the bonnie milldams o Bilnorie O." 16. When by there cam a harper fine, Bilnorie O Bilnorie He harped the nobles when they dine, By the bonnie milldams o Bilnorie O. 17. He made a harp o her breistbone, Bilnorie O Bilnorie Wha's tune would melt the heart o steen, By the bonnie milldams o Bilnorie O. * * * * Richie
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