There were three sisters lived in a booer
Hey ho bonnie
An' they a' went oot for tae pu' a flooer
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie
An' they hadna pu'ed a flower but yin
Hey ho bonnie
When it's up there stapped a banished man
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie
He's taen the first yin by the hand
Hey ho bonnie
And he's turned her 'roond and he's made her stand
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie
Sayin', "Will ye be a robber's wife?
Hey ho bonnie
Or will ye die by my penknife
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie?"
"Oh I'll no be a robber's wife
Hey ho bonnie
I'd raither die by your penknife
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie"
So he's taen oot his wee penknife
Hey ho bonnie
And there he's twined her o' her life
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie
So he's taen the second by the hand
Hey ho bonnie
And he's turned her 'roond and he's made her stand
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie
Sayin', "Will ye be a robber's wife
Hey ho bonnie
Or will ye die by my penknife
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie?"
"Oh I'll no be a robber's wife
Hey ho bonnie
I'd raither die by your penknife
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie"
He's taen oot his wee penknife
Hey ho bonnie
And there he's twined her o' her life
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie
He's taen the third yin by the hand
Hey ho bonnie
And he's turned her 'roond and he's made her stand
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie
Sayin', "Will ye be a robber's wife
Hey ho bonnie
Or will ye die by my penknife
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie?"
"Oh I'll no be a robber's wife
Hey ho bonnie
Nor will I die by your penknife
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie
For I hae a brother in yonder tree
Hey ho bonnie
And gin ye'll k** me, well, it's he'll k** ye
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie"
"Come tell tae me yer brother's name"
Hey ho bonnie
"My brother's name, it is Babylon"
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie
"Oh sister, I hae done this ill
Hey ho bonnie
I hae done this dreadful ill tae ye
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie"
He's taen oot his wee penknife
Hey ho bonnie
And there he's twined his ain dear life
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie