Eppie Morrie (Child 223)

Four and twenty hieland men cam' frae the Carron side
To steal awa' Eppie Morrie for she wouldna be a bride
A bride
She wouldna be a bride

Then oot it's cam her mither, then, it was a moonlicht nicht
She couldna see her dochter, for the waters shone sae bricht
“Haud awa' frae me, mither! Haud awa' frae me!
There's no' a man in a' Strathdon, shall wedded be wi' me."

They've taken Eppie Morrie, then, and a horse they've bound her on;
And they ha'e rid to the minister's hoose as fast as horse could gang
Then Willie's ta'en his pistol oot and set it to the minister's breist;

"O, marry me, marry me, minister, or else I'll be your priest."
"Haud awa' frae me, Willie! Haud awa' frae me!
I daurna avow to marry you, except she's willing as thee."

“Haud awa' frae me, good sir, haud awa' frae me!
There's no' a man in a' Strathdon shall married be by me."
They've taken Eppie Morrie then, sin' better couldna
And they ha'e rid ower Carron side, as fast as horse could flee

Then mass was sung and bells were rung and they're awa’ his shoon
And Willie and Eppie Morrie, in ane bed they were laid
He's ta'en the sark frae aff his back and kicked awa his shoon
And thrawn awa' the chaumer key, and naked he lay doon

"Haud awa' frae me, Willie! Haud awa' frae me!
Before I'll lose my maidenheid, I'll try my strength with thee."
He's kissed her on the lily breist and held her shouthers twa
And aye she grat and aye she swat and turned to the wa'
“Haud awa' frae me, Willie! Haud awa' frae me!
Before I lose my maidenheid, I'll fecht wi' you till day."

A' through the nicht they warssled there until the licht o' day
And Willie grat and Willie swat but he couldna streitch her spey
Then early in the morning, before the licht o' day
In cam' the mid o' Scallater, wi' a gown and shirt

"Get up! Get up, young woman! And drink the wine wi' oe me
"You micht ha'e ca'd me maiden for I'm sure as hale as thee."
"Weary fa' you, Willie, then, that ye couldna prove a man;
You micht ha'e ta'en her maidenheid, she would ha'e hired your hand."

"Haud awa' frae me, Willy! Haud awa' frae me!
There's no & man in a' Strathdon shall wedded be with me."
Then in there came young Breadalbane, wi' a pistol on each side
"O, come awa', Eppie Morrie, and I'll mak' you my bride."

"Go, get to me a horse, Willie; get it like a man
And send me back to my mither, a maiden as I cam'."
The sun shines o'er the westlin' hills by the lamplicht o' the moon
"O, saddle your horse, young John Forsythe, and whistle
And I'll come soon."