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