[Verse 1]
Now thare war twa sisters fa lived in a bower
Oh, and thay gaed oot, aye, tae pou a flouer
Thay gaed oot, aye, tae pou a flouer
Aw doun by the bonnie banks o Fordie

[Verse 2]
When by thare cam a banished man
Oh, he's turned thaim roon' and he's made thaim stand
He's turned thaim roon' and he's made thaim stand
Aw doun by the bonnie banks o Fordie

[Verse 3]
He's taen the first ane by the hand
Oh, he's turned her roon' and he's made her stand
He's turned her roon' and he's made her stand
Aw doun by the bonnie banks o Fordie

[Verse 4]
"Nou, it's will ye be a robber's wife?
Or will ye die by my penknife?
Will ye die by my penknife?"
Aw doun by the bonnie banks o Fordie

[Verse 5]
"No, I'll no be a robber's wife
And nor will I die by your penknife
Will I die by your penknife,"
Aw doun by the bonnie banks o Fordie
[Verse 6]
So he's taen oot his wee penknife
Oh, and he hae taen o her life
He hae taen o her life
Aw doun by the bonnie banks o Fordie-o

[Verse 7]
So he's taen the second ane by the hand
Oh, he's turned her roon' and he's made her stand
He's turned her roon' and he's made her stand
Aw doun by the bonnie banks o Fordie

[Verse 8]
"Oh, it's will ye be a robber's wife?
Or will ye die by my penknife?
Will ye die by my penknife?"
Aw doun by the bonnie banks o Fordie

[Verse 9]
"Na, I'll no be a robber's wife
Nor will I die by your penknife
Will I die by your penknife,"
Aw doun by the bonnie banks o Fordie

[Verse 10]
"For I hae a brither in this country
Well, if you kill me, he'll kill thee
If you kill me, then it's he'll kill thee,"
Aw doun by the bonnie banks o Fordie-o
[Verse 11]
"Gae tell tae me yer brither's name,"
"My brither's name, it's Babylon
My brither's name, it's Babylon,"
Aw doun by the bonnie banks o Fordie

[Verse 12]
"Oh sister, what hae I done tae thee?
Hae I done this dreadful thing tae thee?
Hae I done this dreadful thing tae thee?"
Aw doun by the bonnie banks o Fordie

[Verse 13]
So he's taen oot his wee penknife
And he hae taen o his ain life
He hae taen o his ain life
Doun by the bonnie banks o Fordie-o