The Black-bird/The Banks of Inverury

by Anonymous

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The Banks of Inverury.

One day as I was walking,
 And as I did pass,
On the banks of Inverury,
 I spied a bonny lass;
Her hair hung o’er her shoulders broad,
 And her eyes like stars did shine
On the banks of Inverury:
 O that she were mine!

 I then embrac’d this fair maid
  As first as e’er I could;
Her hair hang o’er her shoulders broad,
 Just like the threads of gold!
Her hair hung o’er her shoulders,
 Her eyes like stars did shine
On the banks of Inverury;
 O that she were mine!

She said, Young man give over,
 And do not use me so;
For after kissing cometh wooing,
 And after wooing woe:
My tender heart you will ensnare,
 And I’ll beguiled be;
On the banks of Inverury
 Alone I'll walk, said she.

She said, Young man give over,
 My company refrain;
I know you are of a gentle blood,
 Yet of a graceless clan;
I know your occupation, lad,
 That good it must not be:
On the banks of Inverury
 Alone I walk, said she.

He said, My pretty fair maid,
 The truth I’ll not deny,
On the banks of Inverury
 Twelve maids beguil’d have I!
I have often us'd to flatter maids,
 But thus it must not be,
On the banks of Inverury
 My wedded wife you’ll be.

He’s put his horn to his mouth,
 And blew it loud and shrill,
And thirty-six well armed men
 Were at their master’s will:
I have often us'd to flatter maids,
 But thus it shall not be,
On the banks of Inverury
 My wedded wife you’ll be.

You’ll take this pretty fair maid
 And set her on horse-back high,
And with her to some Parson ride,
 And that immediately;
And I will sing these lines, said he,
 Until the day I die,
To the praise of Inverury banks,
 Where first I did her see.