View site in Scots
Flickr YouTube

Scots Language Centre Centre for the Scots Leid

Ballad

Rock-a-by-lily the watter is deep
Binorie, binorie, ah, fain wad I sleep
Ring-ring-a-rosies, the corn weirs a croun
The reaper strides forrit … an aa tummles doon.

I glimsked in the cradle — a viper bedd there
I socht me a solace — there wis nane tae spare
Baloo oh Baleerie, the lift’s turned tae stane
As wide as an ocean, as deid as a bane.

The sweet yowe o hope lay alane on the howe
Roch craw, an the clann o the wirm on her powe
Hovan, oh Hovan, coorse time hummles aa
Nyakkit gyang I in the lan’ o the snaw.

The ocean rises tae the meen
The salmon wauks on air
Deid men forsak their yirdy mools
Wi garlands in their hair.