Bessie Bell and Mary Gray
Language: English
O Bessie Bell and Mary Gray, They war twa bonnie lasses; They biggit a bower on yon burn-brae, And theekit it o'er wi' rashes. They theekit it o'er wi' rashes green, They theekit it o'er wi' heather; But the pest cam frae the burrows-town, And slew them baith thegither. They thought to lye in Methven kirkyard, Amang their noble kin; But they maun lye in Stronach haugh, To bick forenent the sin. And Bessie Bell and Mary Gray, They war twa bonnie lasses; They biggit a bower on yon burn-brae, And theekit it o'er wi' rashes.
Glossary:
biggit = built
theekit = thatched
haugh = water-mead
biek = bask
sin = sun
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
biggit = built
theekit = thatched
haugh = water-mead
biek = bask
sin = sun
Authorship:
- from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , "Bessie Bell and Mary Gray", Scottish folk ballad [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in English, adapted by Allan Ramsay (1686 - 1758) [an adaptation] ; composed by Joseph Haydn.
- Also set in English, [adaptation] ; composed by Judith Weir.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2010-01-24
Line count: 16
Word count: 96