Burd Ellen and Young Tamlane Child 28 by Francis James Child Lyrics

Burn Ellen sits in her bower windowe,
With a double laddy 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 laddy double, and for the double dow
And whiles the tears fell down amang.
With the double rose and the May-hay

Till once there by cam Young Tamlane:
With a double laddy double, and for the double dow
‘Come light, oh light, and rock your young son.’
With the double rose and the May-hay

‘If you winna rock him, you may let him rair,
With a double laddy double, and for the double dow
For I hae rockit my share and mair.’
With the double rose and the May-hay

[section missing]
Young Tamlane to the seas he’s gane,
With a double laddy double, and for the double dow
And a’ women’s curse in his company’s gane.
With the double rose and the May-hay