Go ye not by Gallowa

Come bide a while, my frein

I'll tell ye o the dangers there –

Beware o Sawney Bean. 



There's nae body kens that he bides there

For his face is seldom seen

But tae meet his eye is tae meet your fate

At the hands o Sawney Bean. 



For Sawney he has taen a wife

And he's hungry bairns tae wean

And he's raised them up on the flesh o men

In the cave of Sawney Bean. 



And Sawney has been well endowed

Wi daughters young and lean

And they a hae taen their faither's seed

In the cave o Sawney Bean.  

   

An Sawney's sons are young an strong

And their blades are sharp and keen

Tae spill the blood o travellers

Wha meet wi Sawney Bean. 



So if you ride frae there tae here

Be ye wary in between

Lest they catch your horse and spill your blood

In the cave o Sawney Bean 



They'll hing ye ap an cut yer throat

An they'll pick yer carcass clean

An they'll yase yer banes tae quiet the weans

In the cave o Sawney Bean. 



But fear ye not, oor Captain rides

On an errand o the Queen

And he carries the writ of fire and sword

For the head o Sawney Bean. 



They've hung them high in Edinburgh toon

An likewise a their kin

An the wind blaws cauld on a their banes

An tae hell they a hae gaen.