Alison and Willie I 'MY luve she lives in Lincolnshire, I wat she's neither black nor broun, But her hair is like the thread o gowd, Aye an it waur weel kaimed doun. 2 She's pued the black mask owre her face, An blinkit gaily wi her ee: 'O will you to my weddin come, An will you bear me gude companie ?' 3 'I winna to your weddin come, Nor will I bear you gude companie, Unless you be the bride yoursell, An me the bridegroom to be.' 4 'For me to be the bride mysel, An you the bonnie bridegroom to be Cheer up your heart, Sweet Willie,' she said, ' For that's the day you'll never see. 5 'Gin you waur on your saiddle set, An gaily ridin on the way, You'll hae nae mair mind o Alison Than she waur dead an laid in clay. 6 When he was on his saiddle set, An slowly ridin on the way, He had mair mind o Alison Than he had o the licht o day. 7 He saw a hart draw near a hare, An aye that hare drew near a toun, An that same hart did get a hare, But the gentle knicht got neer a toun. 8 He leant him owre his saiddle-bow, An his heart did brak in pieces three; Wi sighen said him Sweet Willie, 'The pains o luve hae taen bald o me.' 9.... ... There cam a white horse an a letter, That stopped the weddin speidilie. 10 She leant her back on her bed-side, An her heart did brak in pieces three; She was buried an bemoaned, But the birds waur Willie's companie. Child #256 SOF APR99
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!