The Dowie Dens O' Yarrow Lyrics - Singles - Celtic Folk

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THE DOWIE DENS O' YARROW 

O late at e'en,and drinking the wine 

Ere we made the lawing 

We set a pact o' the two between 

Tae fecht it in the dawning. 

O stay hame, stay hame my bonny bairn 

Bide wi' me the morrow 

For my cruel brothers will ye betray 

On the Dowie Dens o' Yarrow 

O as he gaed doon by Tenny's field 

I wa't he gaed wi' sorrow 

For there in a den, were nine armed men 

Tae fecht wi' him on Yarrow. 

Well have ye cam' tae part yer land ? 

Or cam' ye here tae borrow ? 

Or did ye cam'tea wield yer brand 

On the Dowie Dens o' Yarrow ? 

I hav'na' cam' tae part my land 

Not yet tae beg or borrow 

But I cam' here tae wield my brand 

On the Dowie Dens o' Yarrow. 

If I see ye all,yer nine tae wan 

And that's an unfair marrow 

But I will fecht while lasts my brand 

On the Dowie Dens o' Yarrow. 

Well five did he hack,and four did he slay 

On the bloody braes o' Yarrow 

Till that fause knight cam' in ahint 

And ran his body through-o. 

Gae hame ,gae hame,guid brother John 

Find yer sister Sarah 

Her lief lord lies cruely slain 

On the bloody braes o' Yarrow. 

As she gaed doon yon high high hill 

I wa't she gaed wi' sorrow 

For there in a den,there were ten slain men 

On the bloody braes o' Yarrow. 

Traditional Borders ballad.