Four-and-twenty highland men

Come from the carron side

To carry away eppy moray for

She would not be a bridea bride

She would not be a bride.



Then out it came her mither for

It was a moonlit night

She couldn't see her daughter for

The moon it shone so brightso bright

The moon it shone so bright.



Hold away from memither

Hold away from me!

There's not a man in all strathdon

Should married be with mewith me

Should married be with me.



They've taken eppy moray

And a horse they've bound her on

And they had rid to the minister's house

As fast as horse could runcould run

As fast as horse could run.



[ then willie he's taken his pistol out

And set it to the minister's breast

O marry memarry meminister

Or else I'll be your priestyour priest

Or else I'll be your priest.



Hold away from mewillie

Hold away from me

I not avow to marry you

Except she's willing as theeas thee

Except she's willing as thee.



They've taken eppy moray then

She'd better could not be

And they have rid over carron side

As fast as horse could fleecould flee

As fast as horse could flee.



Then mass was sung and bells were rung

And they're away to bed

And willie and eppy moray

In ane bed they were laidwere laid

In ane bed they were laid. ]



He's taken the sack from off his back

And kicked away his shoes

And thrown away the chamber key

And naked he's lay downlay down

And naked he's lay down.



Hold away from mewillie

Hold away from me

Before I lose my maidenhead

I'll try my strength with theewith thee.

I'll try my strength with thee.



He's kissed her on the lily breast

And held her shoulders twa

But aye she grat and aye she spat

And turned to the wallthe wall

And turned to the wall.



All through the night they wrestled there

Until the light of day

And willie grat and willie swat

But he could not stretch her speyher spey

He could not stretch her spey.



Weary fa' youwilliethen

For you could not prove a man

For if you gained her maidenheid

She would have held your handyour hand

She would have held your hand.



Go away from melady

Go away from me!

There's not a man in all strathdon

Shall married be with mewith me

Shall married be with me.



Go fetch me a horse

And fetch it like a man

And send me back to my mither

A maiden as I cameI came

A maiden as I came.