Tragical ballad of Lord John's murder/The Cruel Brother

THE CRUEL BROTHER.

There was three ladies play'd at the ba',
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay;
There came a knight, and play'd o'er them a',
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.

The eldest was baith tall and fair.
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay;
But the youngest was beyond compare,
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.

The midmost had a gracefu' mien,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay;
But the youngest look'd like beauty's queen,
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.

The knight bow'd low to a' the three,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay;
But to the youngest he bent his knee,
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.

The lady turned her head aside,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay;
The knight he woo'd her to be his bride,
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.

The lady blush'd a rosy red,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay;
And said, "Sir knight, I'm o'er young to wed,
As the primrose spreads so sweetly."

"O, lady fair, give me your hand,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay;
And I'll mak' you lady of a' my land,
As the primrose spreads so sweetly."

"Sir knight, ere you my favour win,
With a heigh ho! and a lily gay;
Ye maun get consent frae a' my kin',
As the primrose spreads so sweetly."

He has got consent frae her parents dear,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay;
And likewise frae her sisters fair,
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.

He has got consent frae her kin' each one,
With a heigh ho! and a lily gay;
But forgot to spear at her brother John,
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.

Now, when the wedding day was come
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay;
The knight would take his bonnie bride home,
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.

And many a lord and many a knight,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay;
Came to behold that lady bright,
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.

And there was nae mau that did her see,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay;
But wished himself bridegroom to be,
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.

Her father dear led her down the stair,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay;
And her sisters twain they kiss'd her there
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.

Her mother dear led her through the close,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay;
And her brother John set her on the horse,
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.

She lean'd her o'er the saddle bow,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay;
To give him a kiss ere she did go,
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.

He has ta'en a knife, baith lang and sharp,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay;
And stabb'd the bonnie bride to the heart
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.

She hadna ridden half through the town,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay,
Until her heart's blood stained her gown,
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.

"Ride saftly on," said the best young man,
"With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay;
For I think our bonnie bride looks pale and wan,
As the primrose spreads so sweetly."

"O, lead me gently up yon hill,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay;
And I'll there sit down, and make my will,
As the primrose spreads so sweetly."

"O, what will you leave to your father dear,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay?"
"The silver shod steed that brought me here,
As the primrose spreads so sweetly."

"What will you leave to your mother dear,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay?"
"My velvet pall and silken gear,
As the primrose spreads so sweetly."

"And what will you leave to your sister Ann,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay?"
"My silken scarf and my golden fan,
As the primrose spreads so sweetly."

"What will you leavo to your sister Grace,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay?"
"My bloody cloaths to wash and dress,
As the primrose spreads so sweetly."

"What will you leave to your brother John,
With a heighho! and a lily gay?"
"The gallows-tree to hang him on,
As the primrose spreads so sweetly."

"What will ye leavo to your brother John's wife,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay?"
"The wilderness to end her life,
As the primrose spreads so sweetly."

This fair lady in her grave was laid,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay;
And a mass was o'er her said,
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.

But it would have made your heart right sair,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay;
To seo the bridegroom rivo his hair,
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.