Lyr Req: The Heathery Hills of Yarrow (Child #214)

Subject: the heathery hills of yarrow
From: GUEST,sarastro
Date: 25 Apr 02 - 11:51 AM

I'd like to find lyrics from the bothy band songs, particularly "the heathery hills of yarrow" appearing on the after hours album thank you

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the heathery hills of yarrow
From: Sorcha
Date: 25 Apr 02 - 12:19 PM

No luck with Google or lyrics sites.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the heathery hills of yarrow
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 25 Apr 02 - 06:25 PM

I haven't heard the After Hours reording, but this sounds as if it's a version of the Dowie Dens of Yarrow (Child 214). Especially if it involves a lady from the north who loved a ploughboy lad, thus provoking her other higher born suitors to kill him. There's a version (as sung by Jean Redpath) in the DT.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the heathery hills of yarrow
From: Sorcha
Date: 25 Apr 02 - 07:31 PM

Link to #214 links in the DT. Just in case that is it. Click on the titles.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the heathery hills of yarrow
From: Wolfgang
Date: 26 Apr 02 - 04:14 AM

I have thwe recording. Herga's guess is correct thogh of course the lyrics are a bit adapted.

Sarastro, you'll find that most if not all of the Bothy Band songs are in a more or less close variant here. For me, even a version that is only close most times helps to understand the lyrics. Sometimes the titles are slightly different. Use any phrase from the song in the digitrad and forum search.

If there are some tracks you cannot find here call for help with a list of the titles missing and I'm sure you will get help.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the heathery hills of yarrow
From: SKATHA
Date: 26 Apr 02 - 02:51 PM

there's a tremendous book called Ord's Bothy Book of Ballads, that you'll find the words. I'm sure it's the dowie dens of Yarrow.ISBN 085976 303 x

Subject: Lyr Add: THE HEATHERY HILLS OF YARROW
From: GUEST,Wolfgang
Date: 30 Apr 02 - 11:58 AM

Here are the Bothy Band lyrics from their lyrics insert in my 'Afterhours' LP (in the LP times there was room enough for lyrics). Same song, of course, but different enough for posting. I must say, the original story is hardly understandable in the Bothy band version.

Wolfgang

THE HEATHERY HILLS OF YARROW

It's three drew and three slew,
And three lay deadly wounded,
When her brother John stepped in between,
And stuck his knife right through him.

As she went up yon high high hill,
And down through yonder valley,
Her brother John came down the glen,
Returning home from Yarrow.

Oh brother dear I dreamt last night
I'm afraid it will bring sorrow,
I dreamt that you were spilling blood,
On the dewy dens of Yarrow.

Oh sister dear I read your dream,
I'm afraid it will bring sorrow,
For your true love John lies dead and gone
On the heathery hills of Yarrow.

This fair maid's hair being three quarters long,
And the colour it was yellow,
She tied it round his middle waist,
And she carried him home from Yarrow.

Oh father dear you've got seven sons,
You can wed them all tomorrow,
But a flower like my true love John,
Will never bloom in Yarrow.

This fair maid she being tall and slim,
The fairest maid in Yarrow,
She laid her head on her father's arm,
And she died through grief and sorrow.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the heathery hills of yarrow
From: GUEST,Diane
Date: 22 Jan 06 - 05:22 PM

My "After Hours" LP has been through a lot. Anyone know if I can get it on CD anywhere? Thanks

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the heathery hills of yarrow
From: Peace
Date: 22 Jan 06 - 05:26 PM

By who?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Heathery Hills of Yarrow
From: Wolfgang
Date: 27 Jan 06 - 10:54 AM

Bothy Band, as mentioned further up in the thread.
Diane, google "Bothy band" afterhours (in one word) and you'll find the CD. Amazon has it for instance.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Heathery Hills of Yarrow (Child #214)
From: GUEST,Marian M.
Date: 28 Jul 14 - 02:44 PM

For the sake of completeness (and of putting up a version of the song that actually makes a lot of sense!), here is "The Heathery Hills of Yarrow" as recorded by Mick Hanly and Mícheál Ó Domhnaill on their 1974 album Celtic Folkweave:

THE HEATHERY HILLS OF YARROW

It's three drew and threw slew
And three lay deadly wounded
When her brother John stepped in between
And stuck his knife right through him

Oh father dear I dreamed a dream
A dream of duel and sorrow
I dreamed I was pulling the heather bells
On the dewy dens of Yarrow

Oh daughter dear I read your dream
I doubt it will bring sorrow
For your true love John lies pale and wan
On the dewy dens of Yarrow

As she went o'er yon high, high hill
And down to yonder valley
Her brother John came down the glen
Returning home from Yarrow

Oh brother dear I dreamed last night
I'm afraid it will bring sorrow
I dreamt that you were spilling blood
On the dewy dales of Yarrow

Oh sister dear I read your dream
I'm afraid it will bring sorrow
For your true love John lies dead and gone
On the heathery hills of Yarrow

As she walked up yon high, high hill
Down by the homes of Yarrow
And there she saw her own true love
Lie pale and wan on Yarrow

This fair maid's hair being three-quarters long
And the color it was yellow
She tied it round his middle waist
And she carried him home from Yarrow

Oh daughter dear wipe up your tears
And weep no more in sorrow
For I will bring you to a higher degree
Than a ploughboy from Yarrow

Oh father dear you've got seven sons
You can wed them all tomorrow
But a flower like my true love John
Will never bloom in Yarrow

This fair maid she being tall and slim
The fairest made in Yarrow
She laid her head on her father's arm
And she died through grief and sorrow