Song Lyrics

I've heard them liltin'
At the ewe milkin'
And I've heard them liltin'
Before light a-day

Now they are mournin'
For all time a-liltin'
The flowers of the forest
Are all a' wede away

Sad they for the order
That sent them to the border
The English by guile
For once won the day

Now they are mournin'
For all time a-lilting
The flowers of the forest
Are all a' wede away

I've heard them liltin'
At the ewe milkin'
And I've heard them liltin'
Before light a-day

Now they are mournin'
For all time a-liltin'
The flowers of the forest
Are all a' wede away

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The Scottish Original Version of "The Flowers of the Forest"

I've heard them liltin', at the ewe milkin,'
Lasses a-liltin' before dawn of day.
Now there's a moanin', on ilka green loanin'.
The flowers of the forest are a' wede away.

2. As boughts in the mornin', nae blithe lads are scornin',
Lasses are lonely and dowie and wae.
Nae daffin', nae gabbin', but sighin' and sobbin',
Ilk ane lifts her leglin, and hies her away.

3. At e'en in the gloamin', nae swankies are roamin',
'Mang stacks wi' the lasses at bogle to play.
But ilk maid sits drearie, lamentin' her dearie,
The flowers of the forest are a' wede away.

4. In har'st at the shearin' nae youths now are jeerin'
Bandsters are runkled, and lyart, or grey.
At fair or at preachin', nae wooin', nae fleecin',
The flowers of the forest are a' wede away.

5. Dool for the order sent our lads to the Border,
the English for ance by guile wan the day.
The flowers of the forest, that fought aye the foremost,
The prime of our land lie cauld in the clay.

6. We'll hae nae mair liltin', at the ewe milkin',
Women and bairns are dowie and wae.
Sighin' and moanin' on ilka green loanin',
The flowers of the forest are all wede away.

Dp, David Mattacks, David Swarbrick, Richard John (gb1) Thompson, Simon Nicol