There was a lady in the north
You scarce would find her marrow
She was courted by nine gentlemen
And a plooboy lad fae Yarrow

Well, nine sat drinking at the wine
As oft they'd done afore O
And they made a vow amang themselves
Tae fight for her on Yarrow

And so he's come ower yon high, high hill
And doon by the den sae narrow
And there he spied nine armed men
Come tae fight wi' him on Yarrow

He says, "There's nine o' you and but one o' me
It's an unequal marrow"
But I'll fight ye a' noo one by one
On the Dowie Dens o' Yarrow

So it's three he slew and three withdrew
An' three he wounded sairly
'Til her brother, he came in beyond
And he wounded him maist foully

"Gae hame, gae hame, ye fause young man
And bring yer sister sorrow
For her ain true love lies pale and wan
On the Dowie Dens o' Yarrow”

"Oh mither, I hae dreamed a dream
A dream o' doul and sorrow
I dreamed I was pu'ing the heathery bells
On the Dowie Dens o' Yarrow"

"Oh daughter dear, I ken yer dream
And I doobt it will bring sorrow
For yer ain true love lies pale and wan
On the Dowie Dens o' Yarrow"

An' so she's run ower yon high, high hill
An' doon by the den sae narrow
And it's there she spied her dear lover John
Lyin' pale and deid on Yarrow

And so she's washed his face an' she's kaimed his hair
As aft she'd done afore O
And she's wrapped it 'roond her middle sae sma'
And she's carried him hame tae Yarrow

"Oh haud yer tongue, my daughter dear
What need for a' this sorrow?
I'll wed ye tae a far better man
Than the one who's slain on Yarrow"

"Oh faither, ye hae seven sons
And ye may wed them a' the morrow
But the fairest floo'er amang them a'
Was the plooboy lad fae Yarrow”

"Oh mother, mother mak my bed
And mak it saft and narrow
For my love died for me this day
And I'll die for him tomorrow"