The Bonny Swans
A farmer there lived in the north countryA hey ho bonny oAnd he had daughters one, two, threeThe swans swim so bonny oThese daughters they walked by the river's brimA hey ho bonny oThe eldest pushed the youngest inThe swans swim so bonny o
Oh sister, oh sister, pray lend me your handWith a hey ho a bonny oAnd I will give you house and landThe swans swim so bonny oI'll give you neither hand nor gloveWith a hey ho a bonny oUnless you give me your own true loveThe swans swim so bonny o
Sometimes she sank, sometimes she swamWith a hey ho and a bonny oUntil she came to a miller's damThe swans swim so bonny o
The miller's daughter, dressed in redWith a hey ho and a bonny oShe went for some water to make some breadThe swans swim so bonny o
Oh father, oh daddy, here swims a swanWith a hey ho and a bonny oIt's very like a gentle womanThe swans swim so bonny oThey placed her on the bank to dryWith a hey ho and a bonny oThere came a harper passing byThe swans swim so bonny o
He made harp pins of her fingers fairWith a hey ho and a bonny oHe made harp strings of her golden hairThe swans swim so bonny oHe made a harp of her breast boneWith a hey ho and a bonny oAnd straight it began to play aloneThe swans swim so bonny o
He brought it to her father's hallWith a hey ho and a bonny oAnd there was the court, assembled allThe swans swim so bonny oHe laid the harp upon a stoneWith a hey ho and a bonny oAnd straight it began to play loneThe swans swim so bonny o
And there does sit my father the KingWith a hey ho and a bonny oAnd yonder sits my mother the QueenThe swans swim so bonny oAnd there does sit my brother HughWith a hey ho and a bonny oAnd by him William, sweet and trueThe swans swim so bonny oAnd there does sit my false sister, AnneWith a hey ho and a bonny oWho drowned me for the sake of a manThe swans swim so bonny o