Traditional Scottish Folk
Hind Horn (Child 17A)
IN Scotland there was a babie born,
And his name it was called young Hind Horn.
Lilie lal, etc. With a fal lal, etc.

He sent a letter to our king
That he was in love with his daughter Jean.
Lilie lal, etc. With a fal lal, etc.

He’s gien to her a silver wand,
With seven living lavrocks sitting thereon.
Lilie lal, etc. With a fal lal, etc.

She’s gien to him a diamond ring,
With seven bright diamonds set therein.
Lilie lal, etc. With a fal lal, etc.

“When this ring grows pale and wan,
You may know by it my love is gane.”
Lilie lal, etc. With a fal lal, etc.

One day as he looked his ring upon,
He saw the diamonds pale and wan.
Lilie lal, etc. With a fal lal, etc.

He left the sea and came to land,
And the first that he met was an old beggar man.
Lilie lal, etc. With a fal lal, etc.
“What news, what news?” said young Hind Horn;
“No news, no news,” said the old beggar man.
Lilie lal, etc. With a fal lal, etc.

“No news,” said the beggar, “no news at a’,
But there’s a wedding in the king’s ha.
Lilie lal, etc. With a fal lal, etc.

“But there is a wedding in the king’s ha,
That has halden these forty days and twa.”
Lilie lal, etc. With a fal lal, etc.

“Will ye lend me your begging coat?
And I’ll lend you my scarlet cloak.
Lilie lal, etc. With a fal lal, etc.

“Will you lend me your beggar’s rung?
And I’ll gie you my steed to ride upon.
Lilie lal, etc. With a fal lal, etc.

“Will you lend me your wig o hair,
To cover mine, because it is fair?”
Lilie lal, etc. With a fal lal, etc.

The auld beggar man was bound for the mill,
But young Hind Horn for the king’s hall.
Lilie lal, etc. With a fal lal, etc.
The auld beggar man was bound for to ride,
But young Hind Horn was bound for the bride.
Lilie lal, etc. With a fal lal, etc.

When he came to the king’s gate,
He sought a drink for Hind Horn’s sake.
Lilie lal, etc. With a fal lal, etc.

The bride came down with a glass of wine,
When he drank out of the glass, and dropt in the ring.
Lilie lal, etc. With a fal lal, etc.

“O got ye this by sea or land?
Or got ye it off a dead man’s hand?”
Lilie lal, etc. With a fal lal, etc.

“I got not it by sea, I got it by land,
And I got it, madam, out of your own hand.”
Lilie lal, etc. With a fal lal, etc.

“O I’ll cast off my gowns of brown,
And beg wi you frae town to town.
Lilie lal, etc. With a fal lal, etc.

“O I’ll cast off my gowns of red,
And I’ll beg wi you to win my bread.”
Lilie lal, etc. With a fal lal, etc.
“Ye needna cast off your gowns of brown,
For I’ll make you lady o many a town.
Lilie lal, etc. With a fal lal, etc.

“Ye needna cast off your gowns of red,
It’s only a sham, the begging o my bread.”
Lilie lal, etc. With a fal lal, etc.

The bridegroom he had wedded the bride,
But young Hind Horn he took her to bed.
Lilie lal, etc. With a fal lal, etc.