TWA BONNIE MAIDENS
Traditional
There were twa bonnie maidens,
and three bonnie maidens,
Cam' owre the Minch, and cam' owre the main,
Wi' the wind for their way and the corry for their hame,
And they're dearly welcome to Skye again.
Come alang, come alang, wi' your boatie and your song,
My ain bonnie maidens, my twa bonnie maids!
For the nicht, it is dark, and the redcoat is gane,
And ye are dearly welcome to Skye again.
There is Flora, my honey, sae dear and sae bonnie,
And ane that's sae tall, and handsome withal.
Put the ane for my king and the other for my queen
And they're dearly welcome to Skye again.
Come alang, come alang, wi' your boatie and your song,
My ain bonnie maidens, my twa bonnie maids!
For the Lady Macoulain she dwelleth in her lane,
And she'll welcome you dearly to Skye again.
Her arm it is strong, and her petticoat is long,
My ain bonnie maidens, my twa bonnie maidens,
The sea moullit's nest I will watch o'er the main,
And ye are bravely welcome to Skye again.
Come alang, come alang, wi' your boatie and your song,
My ain bonnie maidens, my twa bonnie maids!
And saft sall ye rest where the heather it grows best.
And ye are dearly welcome to Skye again.
There's a wind on the tree, and a ship on the sea,
My ain bonnie maidens, my twa bonnie maids!
Your cradle I'll rock on the lea of the rock,
And ye'll aye be welcome to Skye again.
Come alang, come alang, wi' your boatie and your song,
My ain bonnie maidens, my twa bonnie maids!
Mair sound sall ye sleep as ye rock o'er the deep,
And ye'll aye be welcome to Skye again.
Footnote:
The words to ‘Twa Bonnie Maidens’ was published by James Hogg (1770-1835) in
‘Jacobite Relics’, Volume II (1819) as ‘ Prince Charles and Flora
MacDonald’s Welcome to Skye.’ Hogg, The Ettrick Shepherd, took the words
down from Mrs Betty Cameron, Lochaber – the words were originally in Gaelic.
The two maidens referred to are Prince Charles Edward Stewart and Flora
MacDonald as she assisted him to escape the Hanoverians.
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