Johnny O’Breadislee Songtext
von Hamish Imlach

Well Johnny arose on a May morning
Caad for watter tae wash his hand
Gae lowse tae me ma twa grey dugs
That lie bound in iron bands, bands
That lie bound in iron bands

When Johnny′s mother she heard o this
Her hands for a duel she wrang
Crying, Johnny for your venison
Tae the green wood dare na gang, gang
Tae the green wood dare na gang

But he has taen his good ben bow
His arrows one by one
And he's awa tae the green wood gaen
Tae ding the donn deer doon, doon
Tae ding the donn deer doon


Well Johnny shot and the dun deer leapt
And he wounded her in the side
And atween the water and the wood
The grey dugs laid her pride, pride
The grey dugs laid her pride

Well by there come a silly auld man
An an ill death may he dee
For he′s awa tae Esslemont
The king's seven foresters tae see, see
The king's seven foresters tae see

Then up and spoke the first forester
He wis heid man ower them aa
Gin this be Jock O′Breadislee
Untae him we will draw, draw
Untae him we will draw

Well the first shot that the forester fired
It wounded him in the knee
And the next shot that the forester fired
His heart′s blood blint his ee, ee
His heart's blood blint his ee


He′s leant his back against an oak
His fit against a stane
An he's fired on the seven foresters
An he′s killed them aa but ane, ane
An he's killed them aa but ane

He′s broken four o this man's ribs
His airm an his collar bane
And then he sat him on a horse
Tae carry the tidings hame, hame
Tae carry the tidings hame

Nou Johnny's good bent bow lies broke
His twa grey dugs lie slain
An his body lies in Monymusk
An his huntin days are dane, dane
An his huntin days are dane