The Cruel Brother - Archie Fisher, Wendy Grossman, Kathy Westra

There were three sisters lived in a ha'

Hech, hey, and the lily gay

By cam a knicht and he woo’d them a'

And the rose is aye the redder aye

And the first ane she was dressed in green

Hech, hey, and the lily gay

«Would ye fancy me and be my queen?»

And the rose is aye the redder aye

And the second ane she was dressed in yellow

Hech, hey, and the lily gay

«Would ye fancy me and be my marrow?»

And the rose is aye the redder aye

And the first ane she was dressed in red

Hech, hey, and the lily gay

«Would ye fancy me and be my bride?»

And the rose is aye the redder aye

«Ye may seek me frae my faither dear

Hech, hey, and the lily gay

And frae my mither wha' did me bear

And the rose is aye the redder aye

«Ye may seek me frae my sister Anne

Hech, hey, and the lily gay

And dinna forget my brither John.»

And the rose is aye the redder aye

And he socht her frae her faither, the king

Hech, hey, and the lily gay

And he socht her frae her mither, the queen

And the rose is aye the redder aye

And he socht her frae her sister Anne

Hech, hey, and the lily gay

But forgot tae speir at her brither John

And the rose is aye the redder aye

And her mither dressed her in her gown

Hech, hey, and the lily gay

And her sister tied the flounces 'round

And the rose is aye the redder aye

Her faither mounted her on her horse

Hech, hey, and the lily gay

And her brither led her doon the close

And the rose is aye the redder aye

And he’s ta’en a knife baith lang and sharp

Hech, hey, and the lily gay

And he’s pierced the bonnie bride through the heart

And the rose is aye the redder aye

«Oh, lead me, lead me up yon hill

Hech, hey, and the lily gay

And there I’ll sit and mak' my will.»

And the rose is aye the redder aye

«What will ye leave tae your faither dear?»

Hech, hey, and the lily gay

«The bonnie white steed that brocht me here.»

And the rose is aye the redder aye

«What will ye leave tae your mither dear?»

Hech, hey, and the lily gay

«The bloody robes that I do wear.»

And the rose is aye the redder aye

«What will ye leave tae your sister Anne?»

Hech, hey, and the lily gay

«The gowden ring frae off my hand.»

And the rose is aye the redder aye

«What will ye leave tae your brither John?»

Hech, hey, and the lily gay

«The gallows tree for tae hang him on.»

And the rose is aye the redder aye