The Dowie Dens o' Yarrow

A very old ballad from the region of the Scottish border, "The Dowie Dens o' Yarrow" (Child 214), performed by Jesse Ferguson. Chords and lyrics below.

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The Dowie Dens o' Yarrow
(traditional, arrang. J. Ferguson, 2020)

capo @ 2

V1.
Am G Am
There was a lady in the north.
Am G C
You scarce would find her marrow.
C Dm Am E
She was courted by nine gen--tle--men
Am Em Am
and a plooboy lad frae Ya--rrow.

V2.
Well, these nine sat drinking at the wine
as oft they'd done afore o,
and they made a vow among themselves
for tae fight for her on Yarrow.

V3.
So she's washed is face, and she's combed his hair
as oft she's done afore o,
and she's made him like a knight sae bright
for tae fight for her on Yarrow.

V4.
Well, as he gazed up yon high, high hill
down by the braes o' Yarrow
'tis there he spied nine armed men
come tae fight wi' him on Yarrow.

V5.
"Well, there's nine o' you and but ane o' me;
that's no an equal marrow.
But I'll fight ye's a' now ane by ane
on the Dowie Dens o' Yarrow.”

V6.
So it's three he slew and three withdrew
and three he's wounded sairly.
Til her brother John came in beyond
and did murder him most foully.

V7.
"O mother dear, I dreamed a dream,
a dream o' doom and sorrow.
I dreamed I was pu'ing the heathery bells
on the Dowie Dens o' Yarrow."

V8.
"O daughter dear, I ken yer dream:
I doobt it will bring sorrow.
For your ain true love lies pale and wan
on the Dowie Dens o' Yarrow."

V9.
Well, as she gazed up yon high, high hill
doon by the braes o' Yarrow
'tis there she spied her ain true love
lying pale and dead on Yarrow.

V10.
Her hair it being three quarters long—
the colour it was yellow—
she's wrapped it roond his middle sae sma'
and she's bore him doon tae Yarrow.

V11.
"O faither dear, ye've seven sons:
ye may wed them a' the morrow.
But the fairest floo-er amang them a'
was the plooboy lad fae Yarrow."