GCGDGDGCGCG
[Verse]
CG
Sweet Willie and fair Annie sat ae day on a hill
DGD
Though they had sitten seven lang year, they ne'er wad had their fill
GC
Sweet Willie said a word in haste and Annie took it ill
GCG
"I winna wed a tocherless maid against ma mither's will"
[Verse]
CG
"For ye're come o' the rich, Willie, and I'm come o' the poor
DGD
I'm ower laich tae be your bride an' I winna be yer hooer"
GC
So Annie's gane in 'til her bower, and Willie doon the den
GCGC
And he's come 'til his mither's bower by the lee licht o' the moon
[Verse]
GCG
"Oh, sleep ye, wake ye, mither?" he says, "Or are ye the bower within?"
DGD
"I sleep richt aft, I wake richt aft, whit want ye wi' me, son?
GC
Whaur hae ye been a' the nicht, Willie? And war, ye've tarried lang"
GCG
"I've been courtin' fair Annie, and she is frae me gan"
[Instrumental]
GCGDGDGCGCG
[Verse]
CG
"There is twa maidens in a bower, which o' them sall I bring hame?
DGD
The nut-broon maid has sheep and cows, fair Annie, she's got nane"
GC
"It's an ye wed the nut-broon maid, I'll heap wi' gowd ma hand
GCG
But an ye wed the fair Annie, I'd straik it wi' a wand
[Verse]
CG
The nut-broon maid has sheep and cows, fair Annie, she's got nane
DGD
And Willie, for my benison, the nut-broon maid bring hame"
GC
"Oh, I sall wed the nut-broon maid and I sall bring her hame
GCG
But peace nor rest atween us twa, 'til death sinder's again
[Verse]
CG
For sheep will die in cots, mither, and owsen die in byre
DGD
And what's this warld's wealth to me, gin I get na ma heart's desire?"
GC
"Ye'll tell her to come tae Willie's weddin' the morn at twel at noon
GCG
Ye'll tell her to come tae Willie's weddin', the heir o' Dublin toon"
[Instrumental]
GCGDGDGCGCG
[Verse]
CG
So he is on tae Annie's bower and he's tirled at the pin
DGD
Wha was sae ready as Annie hersel tae open and let him in
GC
"It's I will come tae Willie's weddin' the morn at twel tae dine
GCG
It's I will come tae Willie's weddin', though I'd raither it had been mine
[Verse]
CG
So maidens, tae my bower come and lay gowd on my hair
DGD
And far ye laid ae plait afore, ye'll now lay ten times mair
GC
Tailors, tae my bower come and mak' tae me a weed
GCG
And smiths untae my stable come and shoe tae me a steed"
[Verse]
CG
At every tate o' Annie's horse, there hang a silver bell
DGD
There cam a wind oot frae the north which made them a' tae knell
GC
Fan she came tae Marykirk and sat down in the deas
G C G c
The licht that cam frae fair Annie enlichtened a' the place
[Verse]
GCG
But up and stands the nut-broon bride, jist at her faither's knee
DGD
"Oh, fa is this, ma faither dear, that blinks in Willie's ee?"
GC
"Oh, this is Willie's first true love, afore he lovèd thee"
GCGC
"Gin that be Willie's first true love, he micht hae latten me be"
[Verse]
GCG
"Oh, far got ye the water, Annie, that washes ye sae white?"
DGD
"I got it in ma mither's wame, far you'll ne'er get the like
GC
For ye've been washed in Dunny's well and dried on Dunny's dyke
GCG
And a' the water in the sea will never wash ye white"
[Instrumental]
GCGDGDGCGCG
[Verse]
CG
Fan nicht was come, and day was gane, and a' man boun' to bed
DGD
Sweet Willie and the nut-broon bride were in their chamber laid
GC
They werena weel lyen doon and scarcely fa'an asleep
GCGC
Fan up and stands she, fair Annie, jist up at Willie's feet
[Verse]
GCG
"Weel brook ye o' your broom, broon bride, atween ye and the wa'
DGD
And sae will I o' my winding sheet, that suits me best of a'"
GC
Sad Willie raise, pit on his claise, drew 'til him hose and shoon
GCG
And he is on tae Annie's bower by the lee licht o' the moon
[Verse]
CG
The firsten bower that he cam 'til there was richt dowie wark
DGD
Her mither and her three sisters were makin' her a sark
GC
The neisten bower that he cam 'til there was richt dowie cheir
GCG
He's lifted up the coverlet, fair Annie lay streekit there
[Verse]
CG
"It's I will kiss yer bonny cheek and I will kiss yer chin
DGD
I will kiss yer clay-cald lip, but I'll ne'er kiss woman again
GC
The day ye deal at Annie's grave, the breid but and the wine
GCG
Afore the morn at twel o'clock they'll deal the same at mine"
[Verse]
CG
The tane was buried in Mary's kirk, the tither in Mary's quire
DGD
And oot o' the tane there grew a birk, and oot o' the tither a briar
GC
And aye they grew, and aye they drew, until the twa did meet
GCGC
And every ane that passed them by said, "There's been lovers sweet"