{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/boeb/boeb09.htm","path":"neu/eng/boeb/boeb09.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/boeb/boeb09.htm","text":"\"ANNAN Water's wading deep,\n \u00a0\u00a0And my love Annie's wondrous bonny;\n I will keep my tryst to-night,\n \u00a0\u00a0And win the heart o' lovely Annie.\"\nHe's loupen on his bonny grey,\n \u00a0\u00a0He rade the right gate and the ready',\n For a' the storm he wadna stay,\n \u00a0\u00a0For seeking o' his bonny lady.\nAnd he has ridden o'er field and fell,\n \u00a0\u00a0Through muir and moss, and stones and mire;\n His spurs o' steel were sair to bide,\n \u00a0\u00a0And frae her four feet flew the fire.\n\"My bonny grey, noo play your part!\n \u00a0\u00a0Gin ye be the steed that wins my dearie,\n Wi' corn and hay ye'se be fed for aye,\n \u00a0\u00a0And never spur sail mak' you wearie.\"\nThe grey was a mare, and a right gude mare:\n \u00a0\u00a0But when she wan the Annan Water,\n She couldna hae found the ford that night\n \u00a0\u00a0Had a thousand merks been wadded at her.\n\"O boatman, boatman, put off your boat,\n \u00a0\u00a0Put off your boat for gouden money!\"\n But for a' the goud in fair Scotland,\n \u00a0\u00a0He dared na tak' him through to Annie.\n\"O I was sworn sae late yestreen,\n \u00a0\u00a0Not by a single aith, but mony.\n I'll cross the drumly stream to-night,\n \u00a0\u00a0Or never could I face my honey.\"\nThe side was stey, and the bottom deep,\n \u00a0\u00a0Frae bank to brae the water pouring;\n The bonny grey mare she swat for fear,\n \u00a0\u00a0For she heard the water-kelpy roaring.\nHe spurred her forth into the flood,\n \u00a0\u00a0I wot she swam both strong and steady;\n But the stream was broad, her strength did fail,\n \u00a0\u00a0And he never saw his bonny lady.\nO wae betide the frush saugh wand!\n \u00a0\u00a0And wae betide the bush of brier!\n That bent and brake into his hand,\n \u00a0\u00a0When strength of man and horse did tire.\nAnd wae betide ye, Annan Water!\n \u00a0\u00a0This night ye are a drumly river;\n But over thee we'll build a brig,\n \u00a0\u00a0That ye nae mair true love may sever.","title":"A Book of Old English Ballads: Annan Water","type":"page"}