We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Traditional - Dowie Dens Of Yarrow

from Samhain's March: A Winter Journey by James Olin Oden

/

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $0.50 USD  or more

     

  • Buy the Full Digital Album

  • Samhain's Marchi: A Winter Journey Compact Disc
    Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    CD comes with an insert containing lyrics to all the songs and some information about each song.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Samhain's March: A Winter Journey via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    Sold Out

about

This is a very old and very sad Scottish ballad. It is the typical story of a young man loving a woman above his station, and meeting an untimely end, leaving his love with an abiding sorrow. The song is sung a cappella in a “mild” Scottish dialect.

lyrics

There was a lady in the north,
You could scarcely find here morrow,
She was courted by nine noble men,
And here ploo-man boy O-Yarrow.

As he gae dar yon high high hill,
And doon a path sae narrow,
It was there he spied nine noble men,
Come to fight with him on Yarrow.

Three he slew, and three withdrew,
And three lay dying wounded,
Till here brother John stepped in behind,
And pierced is body through-O.

“Gae hame, gae hame, ye false young man!
and tell your sister sorrow,
For here true love, John,
Lies dead and gone, and a bloody corpse on Yarrow!”

As he gae dar yon high high hill,
And doon a pass sae narrow,
It was there he saw his sister dear,
She was coming fast for Yarrow.

“Oh brother dear, I’ve dreamt a dream,
And I hope it won’t prove sorrow,
For I dreamt that ye were spilling blud,
On the dowie dens O-Yarrow.”

“Well, sister dear I’ll rede your dream,
And I know it will prove sorrow,
For your true love John, lies dead and gone,
And a bloody corpse on Yarrow.”

Well this maid’s hair was three quarters lang,
And the color O it was yellow,
She’s tied it roon his middle so sma,
And she’s carried him hame through Yarrow.

“O dochter dear, dry off your tears,
And dwell nae mair in sorrow,
For I’ll wed you tae a far higher degree,
Than your plooman boy O-Yarrow.”

“Oh faither dear, yeeve siven braw sons,
Ye could wed them all tomorrow,
But a fairer floor there ne’er was born,
Than me ploomen boy of Yarrow.”

credits

from Samhain's March: A Winter Journey, track released May 20, 2011
Vocals - James Olin Oden

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

James Olin Oden image

James Olin Oden Raleigh, North Carolina

It's always been about what moves the heart. The songs I sing are compelling stories whose telling must be told over and over again. The stories range from dark acts that should not be forgotten to the silly revelries that we should never forsake. My hope is that as my heart is moved by the music so too may yours be moved.

Sláinte Mhór...James

Licks and Lyrics Interview on WCOM 103.5: http://t ... more

contact / help

Contact James Olin Oden

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this track or account

If you like Dowie Dens Of Yarrow, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Fabiana Palladino stops by to talk about her mesmeric debut LP.
listen now