THE FLOWERS OF THE FOREST
I've hear them liltin', at the ewe milkin,'
Lasses a-liltin' before dawn of day
Now there's a moanin', on ilka green loanin'
The flowers of the forest are a' wede away
As boughs in the mornin', nae blithe lads are scornin',
Lasses are lonely and dowie and wae
Nae daffin', nae gabbin', but sighin' and sobbin',
Ilk ane lifts her leglin, and hies her away
At e'en in the gloamin', nae swankies are roamin',
'Bout stacks wi' the lasses at bogle to play
But ilk maid sits drearie, lamentin' her dearie,
The flowers of the forest are a' wede away
In har'st at the shearin' nae youths now are jeerin'
Bandsters are runkled, and lyart, or grey
At fair or at preachin', nae wooin', nae fleecin',
The flowers of the forest are a' wede away
Dool for the order sent our lads to the Border,
the English for ance by guile wan the day
The flowers of the forest, that fought aye the foremost,
The prime of our land lie cauld in the clay
We'll hae nae mair liltin', at the ewe milkin',
Women and bairns are heartless and wae
Sighin' and moanin' on ilka green loanin',
The flowers of the forest are all wede away
recorded by Hickerson on Dull Care II
and MacColl & Lloyd Songs & Ballads of Scottish Wars
filename[ FLWRSFOR
playexe FLWRSFOR
from sondra stigen, 1984
DC