# Tragical ballad of Lord John's murder/The Cruel Brother

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THE CRUEL BROTHER.
There was three ladies play'd at the ba', With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay; ​There came a knight, and play'd o'er them a', As the primrose spreads so sweetly.
The eldest was baith tall and fair. With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay; But the youngest was beyond compare, As the primrose spreads so sweetly.
The midmost had a gracefu' mien, With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay; But the youngest look'd like beauty's queen, As the primrose spreads so sweetly.
The knight bow'd low to a' the three, With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay; But to the youngest he bent his knee, As the primrose spreads so sweetly.
The lady turned her head aside, With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay; The knight he woo'd her to be his bride, As the primrose spreads so sweetly.
The lady blush'd a rosy red, With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay; And said, "Sir knight, I'm o'er young to wed, As the primrose spreads so sweetly."
"O, lady fair, give me your hand, With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay; And I'll mak' you lady of a' my land, As the primrose spreads so sweetly."
​"Sir knight, ere you my favour win, With a heigh ho! and a lily gay; Ye maun get consent frae a' my kin', As the primrose spreads so sweetly."
He has got consent frae her parents dear, With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay; And likewise frae her sisters fair, As the primrose spreads so sweetly.
He has got consent frae her kin' each one, With a heigh ho! and a lily gay; But forgot to spear at her brother John, As the primrose spreads so sweetly.
Now, when the wedding day was come With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay; The knight would take his bonnie bride home, As the primrose spreads so sweetly.
And many a lord and many a knight, With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay; Came to behold that lady bright, As the primrose spreads so sweetly.
And there was nae mau that did her see, With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay; But wished himself bridegroom to be, As the primrose spreads so sweetly.
Her father dear led her down the stair, With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay; And her sisters twain they kiss'd her there As the primrose spreads so sweetly.
​Her mother dear led her through the close, With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay; And her brother John set her on the horse, As the primrose spreads so sweetly.
She lean'd her o'er the saddle bow, With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay; To give him a kiss ere she did go, As the primrose spreads so sweetly.
He has ta'en a knife, baith lang and sharp, With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay; And stabb'd the bonnie bride to the heart As the primrose spreads so sweetly.
She hadna ridden half through the town, With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay, Until her heart's blood stained her gown, As the primrose spreads so sweetly.
"Ride saftly on," said the best young man, "With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay; For I think our bonnie bride looks pale and wan, As the primrose spreads so sweetly."
"O, lead me gently up yon hill, With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay; And I'll there sit down, and make my will, As the primrose spreads so sweetly."
"O, what will you leave to your father dear, With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay?" "The silver shod steed that brought me here, As the primrose spreads so sweetly."
​"What will you leave to your mother dear, With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay?" "My velvet pall and silken gear, As the primrose spreads so sweetly."
"And what will you leave to your sister Ann, With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay?" "My silken scarf and my golden fan, As the primrose spreads so sweetly."
"What will you leavo to your sister Grace, With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay?" "My bloody cloaths to wash and dress, As the primrose spreads so sweetly."
"What will you leave to your brother John, With a heighho! and a lily gay?" "The gallows-tree to hang him on, As the primrose spreads so sweetly."
"What will ye leavo to your brother John's wife, With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay?" "The wilderness to end her life, As the primrose spreads so sweetly."
This fair lady in her grave was laid, With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay; And a mass was o'er her said, As the primrose spreads so sweetly.
But it would have made your heart right sair, With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay; To seo the bridegroom rivo his hair, As the primrose spreads so sweetly.