Lyrics m.j.harris and martyn bates - the banks of fordie

There were three sisters lived in a bower
And they went out for to pull a flower,
They went out for to pull a flower,
Down by the bonnie banks o Fordie-o.

Now they had not pulled a flower but one
When up there stepped a banished man,
etc.

And he's taken the first one by the hand
And he's turned her round and he's made her stand,

“Oh, it's will ye be a robber's wife?
Or will you die by my pen knife?

“Oh, it's I'll not be a robber's wife!
I would rather die by your pen knife.”

So he's taken out his little pen knife
And there he's twined her of her life.

And he's taken the second one by the hand
And he's turned her round and he's made her stand.

“Oh, it's will you be a robber's wife?
Or will you die by my pen knife?”

“Oh it's I'll not be a robber's wife!
I'd rather die by your pen knife.”

So he's taken out his little pen knife
An there he's twined her of her life.

And he's taken the third one by the hand
And he's turned round and he's made her stand.

“Oh, it's will you be a robber's wife?
Or will you die by my pen knife?”

“Oh, it's I'll nor be a robber's wife
Nor will I die by your pen knife.

For I have a brother in yonder tree
And if you kill me then he'll kill thee!”

“Come tell to me your brother's name!”
“Oh, my brother's name it is Babylon.”

“Oh sister, sister, I've done you wrong,
Oh sister, sister, I have done you wrong!”

And he's taken out his little pen knife
And there he's taken his own sweet life.