The Bonny Swans

A farmer there lived in the north country A-hey-ho and me 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 and me bonny-o The eldest pushed the youngest in The swans swim so bonny-o Oh sister, oh sister, pray lend me your hand A-hey-ho and me bonny-o And I will give you house and land The swans swim so bonny-o I'll give you neither hand nor glove A-hey-ho and me bonny-o Unless you give me your own true love The swans swim so bonny-o Oh father, oh daddy, here swims a swan A-hey-ho and me bonny-o It's very like a gentle woman The swans swim so bonny-o They placed her on the bank to dry A-hey-ho and me bonny-o There came a harper passing by The swans swim so bonny-o He made harp pins of her fingers fair A-hey-ho and me bonny-o He made harp strings of her golden hair The swans swim so bonny-o He made a harp of her breast bone A-hey-ho and me bonny-o And straight it began to play alone The swans swim so bonny-o And there does sit my father the King A-hey-ho and me bonny-o And yonder sits my mother the Queen The swans swim so bonny-o And there does sit my brother Hugh A-hey-ho and me bonny-o And by him William, sweet and true The swans swim so bonny-o And there does sit my false sister, Anne A-hey-ho and me bonny-o Who drowned me for the sake of a man The swans swim so bonny-o