Hynd Horn
Near the King’s Court was a young child born,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
And his name it was called Young Hynd Horn,
And the birk and the broom blooms bonnie.
Seven lang years he served the King,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
And it’s a’ for the sake o’ his daughter Jean,
And the birk and the broom blooms bonnie.
The King an angry man was he,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
He sent Young Hynd Horn to the sea,
And the birk and the broom blooms bonnie.
Oh! his Love gave him a gay gold ring,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
With three shining diamonds set therein,
And the birk and the broom blooms bonnie.
“As lang as these diamonds keep their hue,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan,
Ye’ll know I am a lover true,
And the birk and the broom blooms bonnie.
“But when your ring turns pale and wan,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan,
Then I’m in love with another man,
And the birk and the broom blooms bonnie.”
He’s gone to the sea and far away,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
And he’s stayed for seven lang years and a day,
And the birk and the broom blooms bonnie:
Seven lang years by land and sea,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
And he’s aften looked how his ring may be,
And the birk and the broom blooms bonnie.
One day when he looked this ring upon,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan,
The shining diamonds were pale and wan,
And the birk and the broom blooms bonnie.
He hoisted sails, and hame cam’ he,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
Hame unto his ain countrie,
And the birk and the broom blooms bonnie.
He’s left the sea and he’s come to land,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
And the first he met was an auld beggar-man,
And the birk and the broom blooms bonnie.
“What news, what news, my silly auld man?
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
For it’s seven lang years since I saw this land,
And the birk and the broom blooms bonnie.”
“No news, no news,” doth the beggar-man say,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
“But our King’s ae daughter she’s wedded to-day,
And the birk and the broom blooms bonnie.”
“Wilt thou give to me thy begging coat?
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
And I’ll give to thee my scarlet cloak,
And the birk and the broom blooms bonnie.
“Give me your auld pike-staff, and hat,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
And ye sall be right weel paid for that,
And the birk and the broom blooms bonnie.”
The auld beggar-man cast off his coat,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan,
And he’s ta’en up the scarlet cloak,
And the birk and the broom blooms bonnie.
He’s gi’en him his auld pike-staff and hat,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
And he was right weel paid for that,
And the birk and the broom blooms bonnie.
The auld beggar-man was bound for the mill,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
But Young Hynd Horn for the King’s ain hall,
And the birk and the broom blooms bonnie.
When he came to the King’s ain gate,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan,
He asked a drink for Young Hynd Horn’s sake,
And the birk and the broom blooms bonnie.
These news unto the bonny bride cam’,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan,
That at the gate there stands an auld man,
And the birk and the broom blooms bonnie.
There stands an auld man at the King’s gate,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
He asketh a drink for Young Hynd Horn’s sake,
And the birk and the broom blooms bonnie.
The Bride cam’ tripping down the stair,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
The combs o’ fine goud in her hair,
And the birk and the broom blooms bonnie;
A cup o’ the red wine in her hand,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
And that she gave to the beggar-man,
And the birk and the broom blooms bonnie.
Out o’ the cup he drank the wine,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
And into the cup he dropt the ring,
And the birk and the broom blooms bonnie.
“O gat thou this by sea or by land?
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan.
Or gat thou it aff a dead man’s hand?
And the birk and the broom blooms bonnie.”
“I gat it neither by sea nor land,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan,
Nor gat I it from a dead man’s hand,
And the birk and the broom blooms bonnie.
“But I gat it at my wooing gay,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
And I gie it to you on your wedding-day,
And the birk and the broom blooms bonnie.”
“I’ll cast aside my satin goun,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan.
And I’ll follow you frae toun to toun,
And the birk and the broom blooms bonnie.
“I’ll tak’ the fine goud frae my hair,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan,
And follow you forevermair,
And the birk and the broom blooms bonnie.”
He let his cloutie cloak doun fa’,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
Young Hynd Horn shone above them a’,
And the birk and the broom blooms bonnie,
The bridegroom thought he had her wed,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
But she is Young Hynd Horn’s instead,
And the birk and the broom blooms bonnie.
Arranged by William Allingham