Eppie Morrie



Four-and-twenty Hielan' men

Cam' frae the Carron side

To steal awa' Epple Morrle

For she wadna be a bride, a bride,

She wadna be a bride.



Then oot it's cam' her mither then,

It was a moonlicht nicht,

She couldnae see her dochter (daughter)

For tbe water shine sae bricht, sae bricht

The water shine sae bricht.



Haud awa' frae me, mither, (hold)

Haud awa' frae me!

There's no' a man in' Strathdon

Shall wedded be with me, with me,

Shall wedded be with me.

They've taken Eppie Morrie, tben,

And a horse they've bound her on,

And they hae rid to the minister's hoose

As fast as horse could gang, could gang,

As fast as horse could gang.



Then Willie's ta'en his pistol oot (taken)

And set it to the minister's breist,

O marry me, marry me, minister,

Or else I'll be your priest, your priest

Or else I'll be your priest.



Haud awa' frae me, Willie,

Haud awa' frae me,

I daurna avow to marry you

Except she's willin' as thee, as thee,

Except she's willin' as thee.



Haud awa' frae me, good sir,

Haud awa' frae me,

There's no' a man in a' Strathdon

Sball married be by me, by me,

Shall married be by me.



They've taken Eppie Morrie then,

Sin' better couldna' be,

And they hae rid o'er Carron side

As fast as horse could flee, could flee,

As fast as horse could flee.



The mass was sung and bells were rung

And they'r awa' to bed,

And Willie and Eppie Morrie,

In ane bed they were laid, were laid

In ane bed they were laid.



He's ta'en the sark frae aff his back

And kicked awa his shoon,

And thrawn awa the chaulmer key,

And naked he lay doon, lay doon

And naked he lay doon.



"Haud awa frae me, Willie,

Haud awa' frae me,

Before I lose my maidenheid

I'll try my strength wi' thee, wi' thee.

I'll try my strength wi' thee:"



He's kissed her on the lily breist

And held her shouthers twa

But aye she grat and aye she spat

And turned tae the wa', the wa',

And turned tae the wa'.



"Haud awa frae me, Willie,

Haud awa' frae me,

Before I lose my maidenheid

I'll fecht wi' you till day, till day

I'll fecht wi' you till day.

A' through the nicht they warssled there

Until the licht o' day,

And Willie grat and Willie swat

But he couldna' streitch her spey, her spey

He couldna' streitch her spey



Then, early in the morning

Before the licht o' day

In came the maid o' Scallater

Wi' a goun and shirt alane, alane

Wi' a goun and shirt alane



Get up, get up, young woman

And drink the wine wi' me,

You nicht hae ca'd me "maiden",

For I'm sure as hale as thee, as thee,

For I'm sure as hale as thee.



Weary fa' you, Willie, then,

That ye couldna' prove a man,

Ye micht hae ta'en her maidenheid,

She wuuld hae hired your hand, your hand,

She would hae hired your hand.



"Haud awa' frae me, lady,

Haud awa' frae me!

There's no' a man in a' Strathdon

Shall wedded be with me, with me,

Shall wedded be with me.



Then in there came young Breadalbane

Wi' a pistol on each side,

O, come awa', Eppie Morrie,

And I'll mak' you my bride, my bride,

And l'll mak' you my bride.



Gae get to me a horse, Willie,

Get it like a man,

And send me back to my mither

A maiden as I cam', I cam'

O a maiden as I cam'.

The sun shines ower the westlin hills (wesiward)

By the lamplicht o' the moon,

O --- saddle your horse, young John Forsythe,

Just whistle and I'll come soon, come soon,

Just whistle snd I'll come soon.



from Blood & Roses vol.3 MacColl & Seeger

Child #223

@courtship @abduction @Scots

filename[ EPPMORR

play.exe EPPMORR

SF

===DOCUMENT BOUNDARY