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Rare Willie

Probably Scottish.
Tune: collected from Peebleshire.


    O Willy's rare and Willy's fair
    And Willy's wondrous bonny,
    And Willy says he'll marry me
    Gin e'er he marries any.

    O came you by yon waterside,
    Pulled you the rose or lily,
    Or came you by yon meadow green,
    Or saw you my sweet Willy ?

    She sought him east, she sought him west,
    She sought him broad and narrow,
    Till in the clifting of a crag
    She found him drowned in Yarrow.

    His hair it was three-quarters long,
    Three-quarters long and yellow.
    She twined it round her lily hand
    And drew him out of Yarrow.

    Yestreen I made my bed full broad,
    Tonight I'll make it narrow.
    For all the livelong winter's night
    I lie twinned of my marrow.

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