Loreena McKennitt - The Bonny Swans

Music by Loreena McKennitt

Lyrics arr. and adapted by Loreena McKennitt

A farmer there lived in the north country

a hey ho bonny o

And he had daughters one, two, three

The swans swim so bonny o

These daughters they walked by the river's brim

a hey ho bonny o

The eldest pushed the youngest in

The swans swim so bonny o

Oh sister, oh sister, pray lend me your hand

with a hey ho a bonny o

And I will give you house and land

the swans swim so bonny o

I'll give you neither hand nor glove

with a hey ho a bonny o

Unless you give me your own true love

the swans swim so bonny o

Sometimes she sank, sometimes she swam

with a hey ho and a bonny o

Until she came to a miller's dam

the swans swim so bonny o

The miller's daughter, dressed in red

with a hey ho and a bonny o

She went for some water to make some bread

the swans swim so bonny o

Oh father, oh daddy, here swims a swan

with a hey ho and a bonny o

It's very like a gentle woman

the swans swim so bonny o

They placed her on the bank to dry

with a hey ho and a bonny o

There came a harper passing by

the swans swim so bonny o

He made harp pins of her fingers fair

with a hey ho and a bonny o

He made harp strings of her golden hair

the swans swim so bonny o

He made a harp of her breast bone

with a hey ho and a bonny o

And straight it began to play alone

the swans swim so bonny o

He brought it to her father's hall

with a hey ho and a bonny o

And there was the court, assembled all

the swans swim so bonny o

He laid the harp upon a stone

with a hey ho and a bonny o

And straight it began to play alone

the swans swim so bonny o

And there does sit my father the King

with a hey ho and a bonny o

And yonder sits my mother the Queen

the swans swim so bonny o

And there does sit my brother Hugh

with a hey ho and a bonny o

And by him William, sweet and true

the swans swim so bonny o

And there does sit my false sister, Anne

with a hey ho and a bonny o

Who drowned me for the sake of a man

the swans swim so bonny o

END