Four-and-twenty highland men
Come from the carron side
To carry away eppy moray for
She would not be a bridea bride
She would not be a bride.
Then out it came her mither for
It was a moonlit night
She couldn’t see her daughter for
The moon it shone so brightso bright
The moon it shone so bright.
Hold away from memither
Hold away from me!
There’s not a man in all strathdon
Should married be with mewith me
Should married be with me.
They’ve taken eppy moray
And a horse they’ve bound her on
And they had rid to the minister’s house
As fast as horse could runcould run
As fast as horse could run.
[ then willie he’s taken his pistol out
And set it to the minister’s breast
O marry memarry meminister
Or else I’ll be your priestyour priest
Or else I’ll be your priest.
Hold away from mewillie
Hold away from me
I not avow to marry you
Except she’s willing as theeas thee
Except she’s willing as thee.
They’ve taken eppy moray then
She’d better could not be
And they have rid over carron side
As fast as horse could fleecould flee
As fast as horse could flee.
Then mass was sung and bells were rung
And they’re away to bed
And willie and eppy moray
In ane bed they were laidwere laid
In ane bed they were laid. ]
He’s taken the sack from off his back
And kicked away his shoes
And thrown away the chamber key
And naked he’s lay downlay down
And naked he’s lay down.
Hold away from mewillie
Hold away from me
Before I lose my maidenhead
I’ll try my strength with theewith thee.
I’ll try my strength with thee.
He’s kissed her on the lily breast
And held her shoulders twa
But aye she grat and aye she spat
And turned to the wallthe wall
And turned to the wall.
All through the night they wrestled there
Until the light of day
And willie grat and willie swat
But he could not stretch her speyher spey
He could not stretch her spey.
Weary fa’ youwilliethen
For you could not prove a man
For if you gained her maidenheid
She would have held your handyour hand
She would have held your hand.
Go away from melady
Go away from me!
There’s not a man in all strathdon
Shall married be with mewith me
Shall married be with me.
Go fetch me a horse
And fetch it like a man
And send me back to my mither
A maiden as I cameI came
A maiden as I came.