The Cruel Brother

 Notation: traditional
PDF Files: ballad

Play MIDI
Play
MIDI
No audio
available 		Transcription: by Darryl D. Bush  
View
notes


Lyrics:

There were three sisters lived in a hall,
Och aye and a lily gay,
There came a knight and he wooed them all,
Oh the rose is aye the redder aye.

Then the first one she was dressed in green.
"Would you fancy me and be my queen?"

And the second one she was dressed in yellow.
"Would you fancy me and be my marrow?"

And the third one she was dressed in red.
"Would you fancy me and be my bride?"

"You may seek frae my faither dear,
And from my mother wha did me bear.

You may seek me frae my sister Ann,
And dinna forget my brother John."

Oh he's sought her frae her father the King
And he's sought her frae her mother the Queen

And he's sought her frae her sister Ann
But he forgot to speak to her brother John.

And her mother dressed her in her goon
And her sister tied the flounces on

And her father mounted her on her horse
And her brother led her to the course

And he's ta'en a blade both long and sharp
And he's pierced the bonnie bride to the heart.

"Oh lead me gently up yon hill
And there I'll sit and make my will."

"And what will you leave to your father dear?"
"The bonnie white stead that brought me here."

"And what will you leave to your mother dear?"
"The bloody robes that I do wear."

"And what will you leave to your sister Ann?"
"The golden ring frae off my hand."

"And what will you leave to your brother John?"
"The gallows tree for to hang him on."

Click here for a full page view.