Cruel Mither (Traditional/E Cowie) The second and fourth lines of the first verse are the refrains. They repeat throughout in the same position in each verse. She's leaned her back against an oak All alone and alonie-o She's pushed and she's pushed till her back's near broke Down by the bonnie greenwoodsidie-o She's leaned her head against a thorn All alone...etc The twa bonniest babes that ever were born Down by...etc She's gone back to her father's castle ha' She was the smallest maid o' them a' As she looked over her father's castle wall She saw twa babes playin' wi' their ba' O dear babes, gin ye were mine I'd gie ye bread, an' I'd gie ye wine Ah, cruel mither, when we were thine Around our necks you pulled the twine We are in the heavens so fine And in Hell's fire you will burn

ALISON CROSS Auld Alison Cross she lives in yon tower The ugliest witch in the north country She's trysted me ae day til her bower And mony braw speech she's made to me Chorus: (But I personally do not sing it after each verse) Awa, awa, ye ugly witch Haud far awa' an' lat me be Afore I'll kiss yer ugly mou' I'd raither toddle aroon' the tree She showed me a mantle o' reid scarlet Wrocht wi' golden fringes fine Gin ye'll be my leman sae true This guidly gift, it sall be thine She showed me a sark o' the saftest silk Weel wrocht wi pearls aboun the band Gin ye will be my leman sae true This guidly gift at your command She showed me a cup o' the guid red gowd Weel set wi' jewels sae fair and' fine Gin ye'll be my leman sae true This guidly gift, it sall be thine Chorus: Awa, awa, ye ugly witch Haud far awa' an' lat me be Afore I'll kiss yer ugly mou' I'd raither toddle aroon' the tree She's ta'en oot her grass green horn She's blew it three times loud and shrill She swore by the moon and stars abune She'd gar him rue the day that he was born She's taen oot her silver wand She's strik'd it three times on the tree She muttered sic words that my senses reeled And I fell doon senseless tae the groun' Wi' silver basin an' silver kaim Tae kaim my heidie upon her knee High on ilka Saturday nicht Auld Alison Cross she's cam tae me Chorus: Awa, awa, ye ugly witch Haud far awa' an' lat me be Afore I'll kiss yer ugly mou' I'd raither toddle aroon' the tree (Well) it fell upon last Hallowe'en When the Seely Court cam ridin' by The Queen's lichted on a gowan bank Nae far frae the tree whaur I did lie She's liftet me in her milk-white hauns She's striked me three times on her knee She's turned me back tae ma proper shape Nae mair I'll toddle aroon' the tree Chorus: Awa, awa, ye ugly witch Haud far awa' an' lat me be Afore I'll kiss yer ugly mou' I'd raither toddle aroon' the tree

THE LAIRD O' ELFIN

MacCRIMMON’S LAMENT Round Cuillin’s peaks the mist is sailin’ The banshee croons her note o’ wailin’ My old blue een wi’ sorrow are streamin’ For him that shall never return…MacCrimmon [Refrain] No more, no more, no more forever In war or peace shall return MacCrimmon No more, no more, no more forever Shall of our gold bring back MacCrimmon The breeze on the brae is plaintively moanin’ The brook in the hollow is mournfully mournin My old blue een wi’ sorrow are streamin’ For him that shall never return…MacCrimmon [Refrain] MacLeod's wizard flag from the grey castle sallies The oars are all seated, unmoored are the galleys Gleam war-axe and broadsword, clang target and quiver For him that shall never return…MacCrimmon [Refrain]

TWA SISTERS (the second and fourth lines, the refrains, repeat throughout) There lived a lady by the North Sea shore Lay the bent tae the bonny broom Two daughters were the babes she bore Fa, la, la la, la, la, la,la, la, la As one grew bright as is the sun Lay the bent...etc So coal black grew the elder one Fa, la, la...etc A knight came ridin' to the ladies’ door He’d travelled far to be their wooer He’s courted one with gloves and rings But he’s loved the other above all things Oh sister, sister, go with me To watch the ships sail on the sea But as they walked along the shore The dark girl threw her sister o’er 'Oh sister, sister, let me live And all that’s mine, I’ll surely give' 'Your own true love, that I’ll have and more But thou shalt never come ashore' And there she floated like a swan The salt sea bore her body on Two minstrels walking on the strand They saw the maiden float to land They’ve made a harp of her breastbone Whose sound would melt a heart of stone They took three locks of her yellow hair And with it strung the harp so rare They’ve gone in to her father’s hall To play the harp before them all But as they laid it on a stone The harp began to play alone The first string sang a doleful sound 'The brighter, younger sister drowned'' The second string, when first they tried In terror sits the black-haired bride The third string sang beneath their bow And surely now her tears will flow

Lullabee, lullabee Sleep will come, lullabee Close your eyes, lullabee Sleep will come, baby Dinna fear, lullabee Mammy's here, lullabee By your side, lullabee Mammy's here, baby Lullabee, lullabee Sleep will come, lullabee Close your eyes, lullabee Sleep will come, baby Whit's that cry, lullabee Rockabye, lullabee Dry your tears, lullabee Rockabye, lullabee Lullabee, lullabee Sleep will come, lullabee Close your eyes, lullabee Sleep will come, baby Lyrics and Music: Elspeth Cowie Copyright: 2003 Elspeth Cowie.