The Bonny Swans

A farmer there lived in the north country a hey ho 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 bonny o
The eldest pushed the youngest in
The swans swim so bonny o
Oh sister, oh sister, pray lend me your hand with a hey ho a bonny o
And I will give you house and land
the swans swim so bonny o
I'll give you neither hand nor glovewith a hey ho a bonny o
Unless you give me your own tru love
the swans swim so bonny o
Sometimes she sank, sometimes she swam with a hey ho and a bonny o
Until she came to a miller's dam
the swans swim so bonny o
The miller's daughter, dressed in red with a hey ho and a bonny o
She went for some water to make some bread
the swans swim so bonny o
Oh father, oh daddy, here swims a swan with a hey ho and a bonny o
It's very like a gentle woman
the swans swim so bonny o
They placed her on the bank to dry with a hey ho and a bonny o
There came a harper passing by
the swans swim so bonny o
He made harp pins of her fingers fair with a hey ho and a bonny o
He made harp strings of her golden hair
the swans swim so bonny o
He made a harp of her breast bone with a hey ho and a bonny o
And straight it began to play alone
the swans swim so bonny o
He brought it to her father's hall with a hey ho and a bonny o
And there was the court, assembled all
the swans swim so bonny o
He laid the harp upon a stone with a hey ho and a bonny o
And straight it began to play alone
the swans swim so bonny o
And there does sit my father the King with a hey ho and a bonny o
And yonder sits my mother the Queen
the swans swim so bonny o
And there does sit my brother Hugh with a hey ho and a bonny o
And by him William, sweet and true
the swans swim so bonny o
And there does sit my false sister, Anne with a hey ho and a bonny o
Who drowned me for the sake of a man
the swans swim so bonny o
Traditional lyrics arranged and adapted by L.M.Music: L.M.L.M. - keyboards, vocals, accordionBrian Hughes - guitars, balalaika George Koller - bass Donal Lunny - bouzouki, bodhran Hugh Marsh - fiddle Anne Bourne - cello Rick Lazar - percussion Assistant producer: Donal Lunny