Fair Flower of Northumberland

The provost's aye daughter was making her lane
Oh but her love was easy won
And she heard a Scots prisoner a making his mane
And she's the fair flower of Northumberland

"It's oh, gin the lassie would borrow a key"
Oh but her love was easy won
"And I'd make her a lady of high degree
If she'd loose me out of this prison stang"

Oh she's gane then tae her faither's bed stock
Oh but her love was easy won
And she's stolen the keys for many a braw lock
And she's loosed him out of his prison strang

Oh she's gane ben tae her faither's stable
Oh but her love was easy won
And she's ta'en a horse that's both fleet and able
To carry them ben tae bonnie Scotland

As they were a riding across the Scot's moor
He said, "Oh but her love was easy won
Get doon frae my horse, you're a brazen faced whore
Although you're the flower of northumberland"

"It's I hae a wife in my ain country
Oh but her love was easy won
And I cannae do nothing wi a lassie like thee
So go get ye back tae Northumberland"

"It's cook in your kitchen I surely will be"
Oh but her love was easy won
"And I'll serve your lady most reverently
For I dare nae go back tae Northumberland"

"It's cook in my kitchen ye cannae well be
Oh but her love was easy won
For my lady, she winnae hae servants like thee
So get ye back tae Northumberland"

But laith was he the lassie tae tyne
He said, " Oh but her love was easy won"
So he's hired an old horse and he's feed an old man
To carry her hame tae Northumberland

But when she gaed in, her Faither did froon
And said, " Oh but her love was easy won
To be a Scot's whore and you're fifteen years old
And you're the fair flower of Northumberland"

But when she gaed in, her mither did smile
And said, " Oh but her love was easy won
You're nae the first that the Scots hae beguiled
And you're still the fair flower of Northumberland"

"For ye winnae want bread and ye winnae want wine
Oh but her love was easy won
And ye winnae want silver to buy a man
And you're still the fair flower of Northumberland"


Child #9
recorded by Sara Grey
play.exe FAIRFLWR.1
play.exe FAIRFLWR.2
play.exe FAIRFLWR.3
play.exe FAIRFLWR.4
SOF