History & Politics
The Bonny Earl of Murray (Child 181)
From The English and Scottish Popular Ballads, ed. F. J. Child (1882–98)
Ye Highlands, and ye Lawlands,
Oh where have you been?
They have slain the Earl of Murray,
And they layd him on the green.
‘Now wae be to thee, Huntly!
And wherefore did you sae?
I bade you bring him wi you,
But forbade you him to slay.’
He was a braw gallant,
And he rid at the ring;
And the bonny Earl of Murray,
Oh he might have been a king!
He was a braw gallant,
And he playd at the ba;
And the bonny Earl of Murray
Was the flower amang them a’.
He was a braw gallant,
And he playd at the glove;
And the bonny Earl of Murray,
Oh he was the Queen’s love!
Oh lang will his lady
Look oer the castle Down,
Eer she see the Earl of Murray
Come sounding thro the town!
Eer she, etc.
Cite this poem
MLA
Traditional Ballads (Child collection). “The Bonny Earl of Murray (Child 181).” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/child-ballads/580/.
Chicago
Traditional Ballads (Child collection). “The Bonny Earl of Murray (Child 181).” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/child-ballads/580/.
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