there was a lady in the north i ne er find her marrow she was courted by nine gentlemen and a plooboy lad frae yarrow these nine sat drinking at the wine sat drinking wine in yarrow they made a vow bemongst themselves to fight for her on yarrow as he walked up yon high high hill and doon been the houms o yarrow there he saw nine armed men come to fight wi him on yarrow there s nine o ye there s ane o me its an unequal marrow but i ll fecht ye all ane by ane on the dowie dens o yarrow and there they few and there he slew and there he wounded sorely till her brother john came in beyond and pierced his heart most foully o father dear i dreamed a dream a dream o duel and sorrow i dreamed i was pulling the heather bell on the dowie dens of yarrow dochter dear i read your dream i it will bring sorrow for your lover john lies pale an wan on the dowie dens o yarrow an she walked up yon high high hill an doon be the houms o yarrow there she saw her lover dear lyin pale and dead on yarrow her hair it bein three quarters lang the colour it was yellow she s wrapped it roon his middle sae sma an bore him doon tae yarrow o faither dear ye ve seiven sons ye may wad them aa the morrow for the fairest flouer amang them aa wis the lad i loued on yarrow 