Текст пісні
In Bruton town there lived a farmer
Who had two sons and one daughter dear
By day and night they were conspiring
To fill their parents' heart with fear
He told his secret to no other
But to her brother this he said
"I think our servant courts our sister
I think they have a mind to wed
I'll put an end to all their courtship
I'll send him silent to his grave"
They asked him then to go a-hunting
Without any fear or strife
But these two bold and wicked villains
They took away this young man's life
And in the ditch there was no water
Where only bush and briars grew
They could not hide the blood of slaughter
So in the ditch his body threw
When they returned home from hunting
She asked them for her servant man
"I ask because I see you whisper
So brothers, tell me if you can"
"Sister, sister, you do offend me
That you so examine me
We've lost him when we've been a-hunting
No more of him we could not see"
As she lay dreaming on her pillow
She thought she saw her heart's delight
By her bedside as she lay weeping
He was all dressed in his bloody coat
"Don't weep for me, my dearest jewel
Don't weep for me or care or pine
For your two brothers killed me cruel
In such a place you made me find"
So she rose early the next morning
With a heavy sigh and bitter groan
The only love that she admired
She found in a ditch where he was thrown
Three days and nights she did sit by him
Till her poor heart was filled with woe
Then cruel hunger came upon her
And to her home she had to go
When she returned to her brothers
"Sister, what makes you look so thin?"
"Brother, don't ask the reason of me
Or for his sake you shall be hung"