The Rose and the Lindsey O' Songtext
von Old Blind Dogs

There was a woman lived in the north
Hey wi′ the rose and the lindsey O
She has coorted her faither's clerk
Doon by the Greenwood sidey O

She′s coorted him for a year and a day
Hey wi' the rose and the lindsey O
'Til her great belly did her betray
Doon by the Greenwood sidey O

She′s leaned her back against a tree
Hey wi′ the rose and the lindsey O
Thinkin' that she micht lichter be
Doon by the Greenwood sidey O

She′s leaned her back against a thorn
Hey wi' the rose and the lindsey O
Bonnie′s the boys that she has borne
Doon by the Greenwood sidey O


But she's taen oot her wee penknife
Hey wi′ the rose and the lindsey O
And she has taen the bairnies' lives
Doon by the Greenwood sidey O

She's buried them ′neath a marble stane
Hey wi′ the rose and the lindsey O
Thinkin' tae gang a maiden hame
Doon by the Greenwood sidey O

She was lookin′ ower her faither's castle wa′
Hey wi' the rose and the lindsey O
She′s spied her bonnie boys playin' at the ba'
Doon by the Greenwood sidey O

"Oh bonnie bairns, gin ye were mine
Hey wi′ the rose and the lindsey O
I′d dress ye up in silk sae fine"
Doon by the Greenwood sidey O

"Oh mither dear, fan we were thine
Hey wi' the rose and the lindsey O
We nivver saw ocht o′ the silk sae fine"
Doon by the Greenwood sidey O


"Bonnie bairns, come tell tae me
Hey wi' the rose and the lindsey O
Fit kind o′ death I'll hae tae dee"
Doon by the Greenwood sidey O

"Seven years a bird in the wood
Hey wi′ the rose and the lindsey O
Seven years a fish in flood
Doon by the Greenwood sidey O

And seven years at the warnin' bell
Hey wi' the rose and the lindsey O
Seven years in the depths o′ hell"
Doon by the Greenwood sidey O

Oh welcome, welcome bird in the wood
Hey wi′ the rose and the lindsey O
Welcome, welcome fish in the flood
Doon by the Greenwood sidey O

And welcome, welcome tae the warnin' bell
Hey wi′ the rose and the lindsey O
God keep me oot o' the depths o′ hell
Doon by the Greenwood sidey O