The Water o' Wearie's Well

There came a bird out o' a bush,
On water for to dine;
And sighing sair, says the king's daughter,
O waes this heart o' mine!

He's taen a harp into his hand
He's harped them all asleep;
Except it was the king's daughter,
Who ae wink cou'dna get.

He's luppen on his berry-brown steed,
Taen her on behind himsell;
Then baith rade down to that water,
That they ca' Wearie's well.

Wide in, wide in, my lady fair,
Nae harm shall thee befall;
Aft times hae I water'd my steed,
Wi' the water o' Wearie's well.

The first step that she stepped in,
She stepped to the knee;
And sighing sair, says this lady fair,
This water's nae for me.

Wide in, wide in, my lady fair,
Nae harm shall thee befall;
Aft time hae I water'd my steed,
Wi' the water o' Wearie's well.

The next step that she stepped in,
She stepped to the middle;
And sighing, says this lady fair,
I've wat my golden girdle.

Wide in, wide in, my lady fair,
Nae harm shall thee befall;
Aft time hae I water'd my steed,
Wi' the water o' Wearie's well.

The niest step that she stepped in,
She stepped to the chin;
And sighing, says this lady fair,
They shou'd gar twa loves twine.

Seven king's daughters I've drowned there,
In the water o' Wearie's well;
And I'll make you the eight o' them,
And ring the common bell.

Sin' I am standing here, she says,
This dowie death to die;
Ae kiss o' your comely mouth
I'm sure would comfort me.

He louted him ower his saddle bow,
To kiss her cheek and chin;
She's taen him in her arms twa,
And thrown him headlang in.

Sin' seven king's daughters ye've drowned there,
In the water o' Wearie's well;
I'll make you bridegroom to them a',
An' ring the bell mysell.

And aye she warsled, and aye she swam,
Till she swam to dry land;
Then thanked God most cheerfully,
The dangers she'd ower came.

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Copyright © 2001, Jack Campin