Hi,

This short version is from James Madison Carpenter Collection, JMC/1/11/160, Disc Side 154, 01:14. Cf. Child M, standard Scottish text.

Binorie- sung by William McKenzie of Kennethmont, Aberdeenshire, about 1931.

1    There were twa sister who lived in yonder bower,
      Binorie, aye and Binorie, O,
There was a bonnie millet's laddie came courting them there,
   He's the bonnie millet's laddie o Binorie, O.

2 He courted the one with many gold rings,
      Binorie, aye and Binorie, O,
But he courted the other wi far better things,
   She's the bonnie millet's lassie o Binorie, O.

3 "O sister, O sister will you take a walk?
       Binorie, aye and Binorie, O?
You'll hear the bonnie blackbird a whistlin' ower its tune,
   An' ye'll see the bonnie millet's laddie o Binorie, O."

4 So they travelled eastward, an' they travelled west,
      Binorie, aye and Binorie, O,
When the oldest danged the youngest into the dam,
   "You're the bonnie millet's lassie o Binorie, O."

5 "O sister, O sister give me your hand,
       Binorie, O Binorie,
An' I'll give you all my yellow gold, likewise all my land,
   I'm the bonnie millet's lassie o Binorie, O."

6 "It was not for your yellow gold that I dang ye in,
      Binorie, aye and Binorie, O,
Because you're so very white, love, an' I'm so very din,
You're the bonnie millet's lassie o Binorie, O."

7 So she swum eatward an' she swum west,
    Binorie, aye and Binorie, O
Till she sunk to the bottom for to rise no more,
    She's the bonnie millet's lassie o Binorie, O."

8   The miller's servant lass came up to the dam,
      Binorie, O Binorie,
It was for some water to wash the millet's hand,
Frae the bonnie dams o Binorie, O[1]."

9   "O millet, O millet, there's fish in your dam,
       Binorie, aye and Binorie, O,
Or it is a droont lady, or a milk-white swan,
    Swimming up and doon the dams o Binorie, O."

10 Ye widna kent her by her bonnie goon o silk,
       Binorie aye and Binorie, O
But ye'd kent her by her middle was so jimp,
She's the bonnie millet's lassie o Binorie, O.
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1. this line is missing.

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Richie