Lyrics The Cruel Brother - Archie Fisher, Wendy Grossman, Kathy Westra

The Cruel Brother

There were three sisters lived in a ha'
Hech, hey, and the lily gay
By cam a knicht and he woo’d them a'
And the rose is aye the redder aye
And the first ane she was dressed in green
Hech, hey, and the lily gay
«Would ye fancy me and be my queen?»
And the rose is aye the redder aye
And the second ane she was dressed in yellow
Hech, hey, and the lily gay
«Would ye fancy me and be my marrow?»
And the rose is aye the redder aye
And the first ane she was dressed in red
Hech, hey, and the lily gay
«Would ye fancy me and be my bride?»
And the rose is aye the redder aye
«Ye may seek me frae my faither dear
Hech, hey, and the lily gay
And frae my mither wha' did me bear
And the rose is aye the redder aye
«Ye may seek me frae my sister Anne
Hech, hey, and the lily gay
And dinna forget my brither John.»
And the rose is aye the redder aye
And he socht her frae her faither, the king
Hech, hey, and the lily gay
And he socht her frae her mither, the queen
And the rose is aye the redder aye
And he socht her frae her sister Anne
Hech, hey, and the lily gay
But forgot tae speir at her brither John
And the rose is aye the redder aye
And her mither dressed her in her gown
Hech, hey, and the lily gay
And her sister tied the flounces 'round
And the rose is aye the redder aye
Her faither mounted her on her horse
Hech, hey, and the lily gay
And her brither led her doon the close
And the rose is aye the redder aye
And he’s ta’en a knife baith lang and sharp
Hech, hey, and the lily gay
And he’s pierced the bonnie bride through the heart
And the rose is aye the redder aye
«Oh, lead me, lead me up yon hill
Hech, hey, and the lily gay
And there I’ll sit and mak' my will.»
And the rose is aye the redder aye
«What will ye leave tae your faither dear?»
Hech, hey, and the lily gay
«The bonnie white steed that brocht me here.»
And the rose is aye the redder aye
«What will ye leave tae your mither dear?»
Hech, hey, and the lily gay
«The bloody robes that I do wear.»
And the rose is aye the redder aye
«What will ye leave tae your sister Anne?»
Hech, hey, and the lily gay
«The gowden ring frae off my hand.»
And the rose is aye the redder aye
«What will ye leave tae your brither John?»
Hech, hey, and the lily gay
«The gallows tree for tae hang him on.»
And the rose is aye the redder aye