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A variant of Child Ballad 14 in which a robber murders two girls who turn out to be his sisters and subsequently decides to never go robbing again. This version is from Norman Buchan and Peter Hall’s book ‘The Scottish Folksinger’ (1986) and from the singing of Jessie McDonald, however the song is known by many different titles and set in different places. I prefer this version as Airdrie is where I am from and where I grew up. A version of the song is also known to be popular in Scandinavian tradition.

lyrics

Three pretty fair maids went out for a walk
Eek in aye sae bonnie-o
They met a robber on the way
On the bonnie banks o Airdrie-o

He’s ta’en the first one by the hand
Eek in aye sae bonnie-o
He’s twirled her roon’ and he made her stand
On the bonnie banks o Airdrie-o

Would ye be a rank robber’s wife?
Eek in aye sae bonnie-o
Or would ye die by my pen knife?
On the bonnie banks o Airdrie-o

I’ll no be a rank robber’s wife
Eek in aye sae bonnie-o
I’d rather die by your pen knife
On the bonnie banks o Airdrie-o

He’s ta’en the second one by the hand
Eek in aye sae bonnie-o
He’s twirled her roon’ and he made her stand
On the bonnie banks o Airdrie-o

Would ye be a rank robber’s wife?
Eek in aye sae bonnie-o
Or would ye die by my pen knife?
On the bonnie banks o Airdrie-o

I’ll no be a rank robber’s wife
Eek in aye sae bonnie-o
I’d rather die by your pen knife
On the bonnie banks o Airdrie-o

He’s ta’en the third one by the hand
Eek in aye sae bonnie-o
He’s twirled her roon’ and he made her stand
On the bonnie banks o Airdrie-o

Would ye be a rank robber’s wife?
Eek in aye sae bonnie-o
Or would ye die by my pen knife?
On the bonnie banks o Airdrie-o

I’ll no be a rank robber’s wife
Eek in aye sae bonnie-o
Nor I’ll not die by your pen knife
On the bonnie banks o Airdrie-o

For I have a brother in this wood
Eek in aye sae bonnie-o
If you kill me then he’ll kill you
On the bonnie banks o Airdrie-o

Come tell me your brother’s name
Eek in aye sae bonnie-o
They ca’ my brother Bobblin’ John
On the bonnie banks o Airdrie-o

Oh dear me what is this I have done
Eek in aye sae bonnie-o
I’ve killed my sisters all but one
On the bonnie banks o Airdrie-o

He’s lifted them up and he’s ta’en them hame
Eek in aye sae bonnie-o
A’ robbin’ a’ robbin’ I’ll ne’er go again
On the bonnie banks o Airdrie-o

credits

from An Nighean Sheunta - The Enchanted Girl, released October 20, 2023
Katie – vocals
Ross Ainslie – whistle
Michael Biggins – piano
Roo Geddes – fiddle
Pablo Lafuente – guitars
James Lindsay – double bass
Signy Jakobsdottir – percussion

Traditional arranged Biggins/Lafuente/Macfarlane

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Katie Macfarlane Glasgow, UK

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