This is an apocryphal tale first heard played by "Old Blind Dogs", that we still use in our set, although now just acoustically






Well there were twa sisters fit lived in a bower
And they ga'ed out aye tae pu' a flower
They ga'ed out aye tae pu' a flower
Doon by the bonnie banks o' Fordie

Oh and  by there came a banished man
He's turned them roond and he's made them stan'
He's turned them roond and made them stan'
Doon by the bonnie banks o' Fordie

Will ye be a robbers wife
Or will ye die by my penknife
Will ye die by my penknife
Doon by the bonnie banks o' Fordie

Oh  I'll no be a robbers wife
Nor will I die by your penknife
Will I die by your penknife
Doon by the bonnie banks o' Fordie

Well he's ta'en out his wee penknife
And he hae ta'en o' her life
He hae ta'en o' her life
Doon by the bonnie banks o' Fordie

Now he's ta'en the second ee'n by the han'
He's turned her roond and made her stan'
He's turned her roond and made her stan'
Doon by the bonnie banks o' Fordie

Oh it's will ye be a robbers wife
Or will ye die by my penknife
Will ye die by my penknife
Doon by the bonnie banks o' Fordie

Oh  I'll no be a robbers wife
Nor will I die by your penknife
Will I die by your penknife
Doon by the bonnie banks o' Fordie

For I hae a brother in this country
And if ye slay me well he'll slay thee
If ye slay me he'll slay thee
Doon by the bonnie banks o' Fordie

Oh tell tae me your brothers name
My brothers name it is Babylon
My brothers name it is Babylon
Doon by the bonnie banks o' Fordie

Oh sister what hae I done tae thee
Hae I done this dreadful thing tae thee
Hae I done this dreadful thing tae thee
Doon by the bonnie banks o' Fordie

So he's tae'n oot his wee penknife
And he hae taen o' his aen life
He hae taen o' his aen life
Doon by the bonnie banks o' Fordie O