Traditional
(from the singing of Belle Stewart and Lucy Stewart)
Twa pretty boys were goin tae the school
And one evening coming home
Said the biggest boy tae the littlest boy
Oh can you throw a stone
Oh can you throw a stone
Well I can neither throw a stone
Nor its little can I play at the ba'
But gin ye'll come doon tae yon merry green woods
I'll try ye a wrestlin fa'
I'll try ye a wrestlin fa'
So they gaed doon tae yon merry green woods
Tae try a wrestlin fa'
A little penknife fell oot o' William's pocket
And gaed John his deidly wound
And gaed John his deidly wound
Its ye'll tak aff yer white Holland shirt
And ye'll tear it fae gore tae gore
And ye will wrap it aroond the wound
And the blood will come no more
And the blood will come no more
So he's taen aff his white Holland shirt
And he tore it fae gore tae gore
And he has wrapped it aroond the wound
But the blood came ten times more
But the blood came ten times more
Oh what will I tell tae yer faither dear
This night when I go home
Tell him I go tae a London school
And a good scholar I'll come home
And a good scholar I'll come home
Oh and what will I tell tae yer stepmither dear
This night when I go home
Tell her I'm deid and in grave laid
For she prayed I might never come home
For she prayed I might never come home