The Flowres of the Forrest

I have heard them lilting at the Ewe milking
Lasses a lilting before dawn of Day
But now they are moaning, on the glen loaning
The Flowers of the Forist are weded away

At bughts in the Morning na blith lads are scorning
Lasses are lonely and dowie and wa
Na daffing nae gabbing but sighing and sobing
Ilk ane lifts her leglen & hies hir away

In hairst at the shearing, nae youth now are jeering
Bansters are runkled and lyart or gray
At fair or at preaching, na wooing na fleeching
The Flowers of the forest are weded awa

At E'en in the gloaming nae younkers are roaming
Bout stacks with the lasses, at Bogle to play
But ilk maid sits dreary, lamenting her Deary
The flower of the forest that weded away

Dool and wae for the order sent our lads to the Border
The English for ance by Guile wan the Day
The flowers of the forest that fought aye the foremaist
The Prime of our Land are cau'd in the clay.

We'll hear na mair lilting at the Ewe harding
Women and bairns are heartless and wae
Sighing and moaning in ilka spick Loaning
The flowers of the forest are weded awa.

• The Flowres of the Forrest (Skene Manuscript) gif midi mov
• McDonalds Rant (Gairdyn Manuscript) gif midi mov
• The Flowers of the Forrest (Oswald's variations) gif midi mov
• Flowers of the Forest - A Reel (Gillespie Manuscript) gif midi mov

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Copyright © 2001, Jack Campin