Merv
I have just come across this which maybe to do with your William that drowned
WILLIE'S DROWNED IN YARROW.
THIS ballad from its touching sentiment and natural pathos
has always been popular. It has frequently been
printed with variations, but Professor Aytoun is of opinion that
WILLIE'S DROWNED IN YARROW. 23
the version given by him in The Ballads of Scotland is genuine,
and on the authority of that learned and conscientious compiler
we have given it here.
" WILLIE'S rare and Willie's fair,
And Willie's wondrous bonny,
And Willie's hecht to marry me,
Gin e'er he married ony.
" Yestreen I made my bed fu' braid,
This night I'll make it narrow,
For a' the live long winter night
I'll lie twin'd of my marrow.
r
" O gentle wind that bloweth south,
From where my love repaireth,
Convey a kiss from his dear mouth,
And tell me how he fareth.
" O tell sweet Willie to come doun,
And bid him no be cruel,
And tell him no to break the heart
Of his love and only jewel.
" O tell sweet Willie to come doun,
And hear the mavis singing ;
And see the birds on ilka bush.
And leaves around them hinging.
24 WILLIE'S DROWNED IN YARROW.
" O cam' ye by yon water side ?
Pu'd ye the rose or lily ?
Or cam' ye by yon meadow green ?
Or saw ye my sweet Willie ?"
She sought him east, she sought him west,
She sought him braid and narrow ;
Syne, in the cleaving of a craig,
She fand him drown'd in Yarrow.
http://www.archive.org/stream/yarrowitspoetspo00borluoft/yarrowitspoetspo00borluoft_djvu.txt
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