the bonny swans

a farmer there lived in the north country

a hey ho bonny o

and he had daughters one

two

three

the swans swim so bonny o

these daughters they walked by the river's brim

a hey ho bonny o

the eldest pushed the youngest in

the swans swim so bonny o

oh sister

oh sister

pray lend me your hand

with a hey ho a bonny o

and i will give you house and land

the swans swim so bonny o

i'll give you neither hand nor glove

with a hey ho a bonny o

unless you give me your own true love

the swans swim so bonny o

sometimes she sank

sometimes she swam

with a hey ho and a bonny o

until she came to a miller's dam

the swans swim so bonny o

the miller's daughter

dressed in red

with a hey ho and a bonny o

she went for some water to make some bread

the swans swim so bonny o

oh father

oh daddy

here swims a swan

with a hey ho and a bonny o

it's very like a gentle woman

the swans swim so bonny o

they placed her on the bank to dry

with a hey ho and a bonny o

there came a harper passing by

the swans swim so bonny o

he made harp pins of her fingers fair

with a hey ho and a bonny o

he made harp strings of her golden hair

the swans swim so bonny o

he made a harp of her breast bone

with a hey ho and a bonny o

and straight it began to play alone

the swans swim so bonny o

he brought it to her father's hall

with a hey ho and a bonny o

and there was the court

assembled all

the swans swim so bonny o

he laid the harp upon a stone

with a hey ho and a bonny o

and straight it began to play lone

the swans swim so bonny o

and there does sit my father the king

with a hey ho and a bonny o

and yonder sits my mother the queen

the swans swim so bonny o

and there does sit my brother hugh

with a hey ho and a bonny o

and by him william

sweet and true

the swans swim so bonny o

and there does sit my false sister

anne

with a hey ho and a bonny o

who drowned me for the sake of a man

the swans swim so bonny o