Willy's Rare

Traditional Scottish. I sing this as a combination of two similar ballads, Willy's Rare and The Dowie Dens o' Yarrow.

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There lived a lady in the North
I ne'er did find her marrow
She was courted by nine gentlemen
And a plooboy lad frae Yarrow

Oh Willy's rare and Willy's fair
And Willy's wondrous bonny
And Willy's gon tae marry me
Gin e'er I marry ony

As he cam' by yon waterside
On the dowie dens o' Yarrow
He espied the nine gentlemen
Cam' tae fecht wi' him on Yarrow

I dreamed a dream, a dreadfu' dream
Twas fu' o' pain and sorrow
I dreamed i pu'ed the heather green
On the dowie dens o' Yarrow

Oh cam' ye by yon waterside
Tae pick the rose and lily
Or cam' ye by yon meadow green
And saw ye my sweet Willy?

She socht him high, she socht him lae
She socht him brade and narrow
Till in the clifton o' a craig
She's found him drooned in Yarrow

Yestere'en I mad' my bed fu' brade
Tae nicht I'll mak' it narrow
For a' the lee lang winter's nicht
I lie twined o' my marrow

Oh Willy's rare and Willy's fair
And Willy's wondrous bonny
And willy wud hae married me
Gin e'er I married ony