Digital Tradition Mirror

O, the Shearing's Not for You

(This score available as ABC, SongWright, PostScript, PNG, or PMW, or a MIDI file)
Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

O, the Shearing's Not for You

O the shearing's not for you, my bonnie lassie O,
O the shearing's not for you, my bonnie lassie O,
O the shearing's not for you, for your back it wouldna' bow,
And your belly's o'er full my bonnie lassie O.

It was in the month of May, my bonnie lassie O,
It was in the month of May, my bonnie lassie O,
It was in the month of May, when the flowers they were gay,
And the lambs did sport and play my bonnie lassie O'

Do you mind on yonder hill, my bonnie laddie O,
Do you mind on yonder hill, my bonnie laddie O,
D'you mind on yonder hill where you swore you would me kill,
If you did'na have your will? my bonnie laddie O.

Do you mind the banks of Ayre, my bonnie laddie O,
Do you mind the banks of Ayre, my bonnie laddie O,
Do you mind the banks of Ayre, where you drew me in your snare,
And you left me in despair, my bonnie laddie O?

O it's you may kill me dead, my bonnie laddie O,
O it's you may kill me dead, my bonnie laddie O,
O I'll not kill you dead nor make your body bleed,
Nor marry you with speed my bonnie lassie O.

For the pipes do sweetly play, my bonnie lassie O,
For the pipes do sweetly play, my bonnie lassie O,
O the pipes do sweetly play and the troops do march away,
And it's here I will not stay, my bonnie lassie O.

O the shearing's not for you, my bonnie lassie O,
O the shearing's not for you, my bonnie lassie O,
O the shearing's not for you, for your back it wouldna' bow,
And your belly's o'er full my bonnie lassie O.


note: This is the only version I've ever encountered which
 specifies a rape. I don't know the original source. RG
From My Song is My Own, Armstrong and Kerr
RG
APR99

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!