Bonny Birdy

Lyrics

O it's of a knight on a summer's night Was riding o'er the lee, diddle There he spied a bonny bird Sitting upon a tree. Singing: "Wow for the day! An gin it for the day! Oh gin it were day And gin I were away! I ha na lang time to stay." diddle "O make hast, make hast, ye gentle knight What keeps you here so late? diddle Gin ye kent what's doing at hame I fear ye would look blate" diddle "O why should I toil day and night My fair body to kill For ninety knights at my command An ladys at my will?" "O ye lee ye lee ye gentle knight So loud I hear you lee: diddle There's a knight in your lady's arms And she lees better than thee." diddle "Ye lee, you lee you bonny bird But you'll no lee again For I will tak my bonny bow An split your head in twain." "But afore ye hae your bow well bent An a' your arrows yare, diddle I will flee tae another tree Where I may better fare." diddle "O whare was ye gotten, and whare was ye clecked? Pray bonny birdy, tell me:" "O it was in the green wood Intill a holly tree "An a gentleman came riding by An frae my nest he herryed me Put me in a silver cage An ga me to his lady." "Then wi good white bread an farrow-cow milk He bade her feet me aft An ga her a little wee simmer-dale wanny To ding me sindle and saft But wi good white bread an farrow-cow milk I wot she fed me nought An wi a little wee simmer-dale wanny She dang me sare and aft." "Time he was away O time he was away For he that's in bed Wi's another man's wife It's time he was away." diddle So the knight he rade, and the birdy flew ... "Lie still, lie still, ye gentle knight What makes ye toss an turn?" "A birdy sang an it troubles me An I fear a coming storm." "But is no your hawk upon its perch? Your horse eats oats and hay An ye've a lady in your arms How can ye wish for day?" diddle So he's turned himself at o'er again To take a little sleep And when he awoke the lady's lord Was standing at their feet. Crying: "Wow for the day For he that's in bed wi another's man wife It's time he was away" diddle So then he's taken out his sword An straiked it o'er a strae An thro an thro the false knight's heart He 's gard cauld iron gae. diddle Then he's darked the windows up secure With muttle shudders sprang An there was neither sun nor sky But darkness in her room. She cries: "Wow for the day! An gin it for the day! Oh gin it were day And gin I were away! I can na langer stay." diddle "Wow for the day! An gin it for the day! For there was never a living soul That ever came our way." diddle