Eppie Moray

Lyrics

Four and twenty highland men Come from the carrion side To carry Eppie Moray She would not be a bride, a bride Would not be a bride Out then came her mother For it was a moonlit night She couldn't see her daughter For the water shone so bright, so bright The water shone so bright Go away from me, mother Go away from me There's not a man in all Scotland Should wedded be with me, with me Should wedded be with me They've taken Eppie Moray And a horse they've bound her on And they have rid to the minister's house As fast as horse could run, could run As fast as horse could run Then Willie's taken his pistol out And pointed it at the minister's head Saying "Marry me, marry me, minister Or else I'll shoot you dead, you dead Or else I'll shoot you dead" Go away from me, Willie Go away from me I'm not about to marry you Unless she's willing as thee, as thee Unless she's willing as thee They've taken Eppie Moray Since better couldna be And they have rid to Carron side As fast as horse could flee, could flee As fast as horse could flee Then mass was sung and bells were rung And they're awa to bed And Willie and Eppie Moray In one bed they were laid, were laid In one bed they were laid He's ta'en the sack from off his back And kicked awa his shoes And thrown awa the chamber key And naked he's lay doon, lay doon And naked he's lay doon Haud awa from me, Willie Haud awa from me Before I lose my maidenhead I'll try my strength with thee, with thee I'll try my strength with thee He's kissed her on the lily breasts And he's held her shouthers twa And aye she grat and aye she spat And turned to the wall, the wall And turned to the wall And all the night, they wrestled there Until the light of day And Willie grat and Willie swat But he could not stretch her spey, her spey Could not stretch her spey It's a pity for you, Willie For you could not prove a man For if you gained her maidenhead She would have held your hand, your hand Would have held your hand Go away from me, lady Go away from me There's not a man in all Strathdon Shall married be with me, with me Married be with me Go fetch me a horse, Willie And fetch it like a man And send me back to my mother A maiden as I came, I came Maiden as I came