KATHERINE JAFFRAY
(old Scottish ballad; learned from a Cynthia Gooding record)
Lochnagar came from the West, out from the low country,
And then there came one Amosdale, down from the North country,
A bridal day it then was set, and the bridal day came on,
A glass was filled with gude red wine, well drunk between them twa,
A few words wi' your bridemaiden, I hope you'll grant me then,
And then oot spoke the first groomsman, and an angry man was he;
Until the sun gae tee, he said, until the sun gae tee;
But he's ta'en her by the middle jimp, and he never stopped to ca',
He's leaned across the saiddlebow, and he's kissed her cheek and chin,
He drew a trumpet from his breist, and he blew both loud and shrill,
A hunner o' well-armed men, on milk-white steeds and gray,
Horsemen rode and bridesmen ran and ladies in full speed,
She's turned around in the saiddlebow and addressed her late bridegroom,
So Katherine Jaffray was married at morn, and she was married at noon,
(from miriam berg's folksong collection)
And he's courted Katherine Jaffray, and won her heart away.
And he has won her father's heart, and her mother's too.
And who appeared among the guests but Lochnagar himself.
Says he, I'll drink wi' you, bridegroom, and soon boun' me awa'.
I'm sure before her wedding day I would have gotten ten.
Says, I will keep my bonnie bride, until the sun gae tee.
And deliver her over to her bridegroom, which is my duty to dee.
He's ta'en her by the milk-white hand, and led her thro' the ha'.
And he waved to all of them goodnight, and heisted her ahin.
A hunner o' well-armed men came Lochnagar until.
A hunner o' well-armed men, upon his wedding day.
But you would not ha' seen his yello' locks, for the dust of his horse's feet.
Says, the compliments I got from you, I'll return them back again.
She was twice-married in a day, ere she cast off her goon.