JOHNNY OF BRAIDESLEY



Johnnie rose on a May morning

Called for water tae wash his hands

Says, "Gae loose tae me my guid grey dogs

That lie bound in iron bands



"Ye'll busk, ye'll busk, my noble dogs

Ye'll busk and make them bound

For I'm gaun tae the Broadspear Hill

Tae ding the dun deer doon"



When Johnnie's mother she heard o' this

Her hands wi' dule she rung

Says, "Johnnie for my benison

Tae the green woods dinna gang



"Enough ye hae o' the guid white breid

Enough o' the blude red wine

So Johnnie, for your venison

Tae the green woods dinna gang"



But Johnnie has buskit up his guid bent bow

His arrows ane by ane

And he's awa' tae Durisdeer

Tae ding the dun deer doon



Johnnie shot, the dun deer lap

And he wounded her in the side

But atween the water and the wood

His hounds they laid her pride



Johnnie ate o' the venison

His dogs drank o' the blude

Till they a' lay doon and fell asleep

Asleep as they'd been deid



The by there cam' a silly auld carle

A silly auld man was he

And he's awa' tae the king's foresters

Tae tell wha' he did see



Then up an' spak' the king's forester

An angry man was he

"If this be Johnnie o' Braidesley

We soon will gar him dee"



"Stand stout, stand stout, my noble dogs

Stand stout and dinna flee

Stand fast, stand fast, my guid grey hounds

And we wi' mak' them dee"



Johnnie he shot six o' them

He's wounded the seventh sair

Syne he swung his hough ower his horse's back

And he swore he would hunt mair



Now Johnnie's guid bent bow is brak'

His guid grey dogs are slain

And his body lies in Durisdeer

His hunting days are done



Child #114

@hunt @animal @death @outlaw

sung by Jean Redpath and Ewan Maccoll

filename[ BRAIDSLY

SF

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