Johnnie o’ Breadisley Songtext
von Ewan MacColl

Johnnie rose on a May mornin′
Called for water tae wash his hands
Said, "Gar loose to me ma twa gray dugs
That lie bound in iron chains, chains
That lie bound in iron chains"

You'll busk, you′ll busk, ma twa gray dogs
You'll busk and mak them boun
For I'm awa tae the Broadsper Hill
Tae bring the dun deer doon, doon
Tae bring the dun deer doon

When Johnnie′s mither she heard o′ this
Her hands wi dule she wrang
Sais, "Johnnie, for your venison
To the grenewoods dinna gang, gang
To the grenewoods dinna gang"


It's we hae plenty o′ guide wheat-bread
And plenty o' guide red wine
"So Johnnie for yer venison
To the grenewoods dinna gang, gang
To the grenewoods dinna gang"

But Johnnie has breskit his guide bend bow
His arras, one by one
And he′s awa to the gay grenewoods
Tae pull the dun deer doon, doon
Tae pull the dun deer doon

Johnnie shot, the dun deer lap
She was wounded in the side
And atween the water and the wood
The gray hunds laid her pride, pride
The gray hunds laid her pride

Johnnie et o the venison
And the dogs drank o the bleid
And they all licht doon and fell fast asleep
Asleep as tho' they′d been deid, deid
Asleep as tho' they'd been deid


Then by there came a silly auld man
And a silly auld man was he
And he′s awa to the king′s forester
For to tell on young Johnnie-ie
To tell on young Johnnie

Then up and spake the king's forester
And an angry man was he
Sais, "If this be Johnnie O′Breadisley
A gar will mark him deid, deid
Ma faith will gar him deid"

"Stand oot, stand oot, ma noble dug
Stand oot and dinna flee
Stand fast, stand fast ma guide gray hunds
And we will mak them dee, dee
And we will mak them dee"

Johnnie showed the six o' them
And the seventh he wounded ser
And he swung his houch oer his horses′ back
And he swore that he would hunt mair, mair
He swore that he would hunt mair