Henry's Songbook

Bonnie lass come o'er the burn
I'm the lad'll dae ye a turn
O dinnae ye stand there and mourn
And what's the devil ails you

Bonnie lass come o'er the street
I'm the faither o' your geet
Dinnae ye stand there and greet
And what the devil ails you

Repeat 1

As sung by Jeannie Robertson

Bonnie lass come o'er the burn
I'm the lad'll dae ye a turn
Bonnie lass come o'er the burn
And what the devil ails you

Bonnie lass come o'er the street
I'm the lad that faithered your geet
Dinnae ye stand there and greet
And what the devil ails you

Bonnie lass come by my side
I'm the lad that took your pride
Never took you for a bride
And what the devil ails ye

As sung by Enoch Kent

[1986:] The song rarely exceeds two stanzas but in spite of its brevity it is a great favourite among Scots Travellers. (MacColl/Seeger, Doomsday 209)

[1984:] Jeannie [Robertson] knew plenty of Lallan mouth tunes (the equivalent in the Scots speaking areas of Gaelic puirt a beul). This one would do fine for a schottische. (Hamish Henderson, notes Jeannie Robertson 'Up the Dee and Doon the Don')

[1993:] This snatch of a song comes from the singing of Jeannie Robertson. - Variations of the tune with different lyrics exist elsewhere, notably in Ireland and Tyneside. (Notes Battlefield Band, 'Preview' CD)