Brian Peters' version:

There was a lady in the west
Lay the bent to the bonny broom
She had three daughters of the best
Fa la la la la la la la la la

A strange young knight came to the gate
Lay the bent to the bonny broom
He knocked loud, and he knocked late
Fa la la la la la la la la la

The eldest sister, she let him in
Lay the bent to the bonny broom
And pinned the door with a silver pin
Fa la la la la la la la la la

The second sister, she made his bed
Lay the bent to the bonny broom
Laid soft pillows under his head
Fa la la la la la la la la la

The youngest sister was bold and bright
Lay the bent to the bonny broom
She went to bed to the strange young knight
Fa la la la la la la la la la

"Young woman, since you've lain with me,"
Lay the bent to the bonny broom
"I'll ask you questions three times three;"
Fa la la la la la la la la la

"Answer me these questions nine,"
Lay the bent to the bonny broom
"Or else you surely shall be mine."
Fa la la la la la la la la la

"What is higher than the tree?"
Lay the bent to the bonny broom
"What is deeper than the sea?"
Fa la la la la la la la la la

"What is sharper than the thorn?"
Lay the bent to the bonny broom
"And what is louder than the horn?"
Fa la la la la la la la la la

"What is whiter than the milk?"
Lay the bent to the bonny broom
"What is softer than the silk?"
Fa la la la la la la la la la

"What is greener than the grass?"
Lay the bent to the bonny broom
"And what is worse than woman e'er was?"
Fa la la la la la la la la la

"What is rounder than a ring?"
Lay the bent to the bonny broom
"Now to me your answers bring!"
Fa la la la la la la la la la

"Heaven's higher than the tree,"
Lay the bent to the bonny broom
"Hell is deeper than the sea,"
Fa la la la la la la la la la

"Hunger's sharper than the thorn,"
Lay the bent to the bonny broom
"Thunder's louder than the horn,"
Fa la la la la la la la la la

"Snow is whiter than the milk,"
Lay the bent to the bonny broom
"Love is softer than the silk,"
Fa la la la la la la la la la

"Poison's greener than the grass,"
Lay the bent to the bonny broom
"The devil is worse than woman was,"
Fa la la la la la la la la la

"The world is rounder than a ring,"
Lay the bent to the bonny broom
"And thus to you my answers bring."
Fa la la la la la la la la la

"Now I have answered your questions nine,"
Lay the bent to the bonny broom
"So I never shall be thine!"
Fa la la la la la la la la la

He clapped his wings and aloud did cry
Lay the bent to the bonny broom
In a blazing fire away did fly
Fa la la la la la la la la la


Previous Mudcat discussion of the meaning here


Kitty