Fugitive Poetry. 1600–1878/There are Twa Bonnie Maidens

There Are Twa Bonnie Maidens.

Hogg gives this song in his "Jacobite Relics." as copied verbatim from the recitation of Mrs. Betty Cameron from Lochaber, who was noted for her great store of Jacobite songs. This song alludes to the escape of Prince Charles in female attire, to the Isle of Skye, under the guidance of the celebrated Flora Macdonald.

 

There are twa bonnie maidens, and three bonnie maidens,Came o'er the Minch and o'er the main,With the wind for their way, and the corrie for their hame,And they are dearly welcome to Skye again.   Come along, come along, with your boatie and your song,  You twa bonnie maidens, and three bonnie maidens,  For the nicht it is dark, and the redcoat is gone,  And you are bravely welcome to Skye again.

There is Flora, my honey, sae dear and sae bonnie,And ane that is tall and comely withal;Put the one as my king, and the other as my queen,And they are dearly welcome to Skye again.            Come along, &c.

Her arm it is strong, and her petticoat is long,My ain bonnie maidens, my twa bonnie maidens,But their bed shall be clean and the heather sae green,And they are dearly welcome to Skye again.            Come along, &c.

There's a wind on the tree, and a ship on the sea,My twa bonnie maidens, and three bonnie maidens,On the lea of the rock shall your cradle be rocked,And you're welcome unto the Isle of Skye again.            Come along, &c.