Bonny lass of Banaphie (1826)/The bonny lass of Banaphie

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THE BONNY LASS OF BANAPHIE.

⁠Once I loved a Lady fair,
She was a beauty I declare,
The only flower of the north country,
That bonny lass of Banaphie.

⁠She being heiress of houses and land,
And I alone a poor farmer's son,
It was her birth and high degree,
That parted my true love and me.

⁠I loved this lady in my heart,
Against our will it was to part,
For she adored me as her life,
In private we were man and wife.

⁠Great Knights and Squires a courting came,
Unto this fair and courtly dame,
But all their offers proved in vain,
For none her favour could obtain.

⁠But when her father came to know,
How that I loved his daughter so,
He Judas like, betrayed me,
For keeping of her companie.

⁠It was at Aulrain I was ta'en,
A prisoner for Lady Jean;
In fetters strong then I was ta'en,
And carried into Aberdeen.

⁠It's not their frowns that I do mind,
Nor yet the way that I have to go,
But love has pierced my tender heart,
And alas! it's brought me very low.

⁠I was embarked at the shore,
Never to see my darling more,
In Germany a soldier to be,
All for the lass of Banaphie.

⁠But when I was upon the seas,
I ne'er could take one moment's ease,
For she was daily in my mind,
That bonny lass I left behind.

⁠But when I arrived in foreign land,
From my true love a letter came,
With her respect in each degree,
Sign'd by the lass of Banaphie.

⁠The answer which to her I sent,
It never to my true love went,
It was her cruel Father then,
Told her that I abroad was slain.

⁠Which grieved this maiden's heart full sore,
To think that we should ne'er meet more,
This caus'd her weep most bitterly,
These tidings from high Germany.

⁠O daughter dear thy tears refrain,
To weep for him is all in vain,
I have a better match for thee,
To enjoy the lands of Banaphie.

⁠He was the husband of my youth,
In pledge he had my faith and troth,
I made a vow I'll wed with none,
Since my true love is dead and gone.

⁠On ev'ry finger she put a ring,
On her mid-finger she put three,
And she's away to high Germany,
In hopes her true love for to see.

⁠O she's put on her robes of green,
Which was most lovely to be seen,
O had he been a crowned king,
This fair lady might been his queen.

⁠But when she came to high Germany,
By fortune there her love did see,
Upon yon lofty rampart wall,
As he was standing sentry.

⁠O were my love in this country,
O I could swear that you was she,
For there's not a face in high Germany,
So like the lass of Banaphie.

⁠The first she met was a colonel then,
And he address'd her most courteously,
From whence she came and where she was born,
Her name and from what country.

⁠From fair Scotland she said I came,
In hopes my true love for to see,
But now I hear he's a Grenadier,
Into your Lordship's company.

⁠What's thy love's name thou comely dame,
O lady fair come tell me then,
For it's a pity thy love should be,
In the fashion of a single man.

⁠O William Graham is my love's name,
All these hardships suffers for me,
And if it costs me thousands ten,
A single man no more he's be.

⁠O lady fair come along with me,
And thy true love thou soon shalt see,
And for thy sake a vow I'll make,
A single man no more he s be.

⁠Young Billy Graham was called then,
His own true love once more to see,
But when he saw her well far'd face,
O the salt tears did blind his eye.

⁠You're welcome here my dearest dear,
You're thrice welcome here unto me,
For there's not a face so full of grace,
Not in the land of Germany.

⁠With kisses sweet those lovers did meet,
Most joyful as we are told,
She's chang'd his dress from worsted lace,
To crimson scarlet trim'd with gold.

⁠But when her cruel Father found,
His daughter she abroad was gone,
He sent a letter on express,
Twas to call these lovers home.

⁠To him he gave a free discharge,
All for the sake of Lady Jean,
But now we hear he's a wealthy squire,
Into the shire of Aberdeen.