The English and Scottish Popular Ballads/Part 1/Chapter 28

by Francis James Child

Burd Ellen and Young Tamlane

BURD ELLEN sits in her bower windowe,
      Refrain: With a double laddy double, and for the double dow
Twisting the red silk and the blue.
      Refrain: With the double rose and the May-hay
And whiles she twisted, and whiles she twan,
And whiles the tears fell down amang.
Till once there by cam Young Tamlane:
‘Come light, oh light, and rock your young son.’
‘If you winna rock him, you may let him rair,
For I hae rockit my share and mair.’
* * * * *
Young Tamlane to the seas he’s gane,
And a’ women’s curse in his company’s gane.