Burd Ellen and Young Tamlane

Peter Warlock

Burd Ellen sits in her bower windowe,

With a double laddie double, and for the double dow,

Twisting the red silk and the blue,

With the double rose and the May hay.

And whiles she twisted and whiles she twan,

With a double laddie double and for the double dow,

And whiles the tears fell down amang,

With the double rose and the May hay.

Till once there cam' by young Tamlane,

With a double laddie double and for the double dow,

"Come light, oh light and rock your young son!"

With the double rose and the May hay.

"If ye winna rock him, ye may let him rair,

With a double laddie double and for the double dow,

For I ha'e rockit my share and mair!"

With the double rose and the May hay.

Young Tamlane to the seas he's gone,

With a double laddie double and for the double dow,

And a' women's curse in his company's gane!

With the double rose and the May hay.