Broom of the Cowdenknowes<br>
The Broom of the Cowdenknowes<br>
Traditional<br>
Words, music and chords appear in<br>
One verse and chorus: MP3<br>
(345K)<br>
Entire song: MP3 (2.2meg)<br>
"The Broom of the Cowdenknowes" is performed by<br>
<br>
Notes from Andy: Easily traceable back to the early seventeenth century<br>
where it appears in a small collection as<br>
"The Lovely Northerne Lass." Allan Ramsay also published a version in his<br>
"Tea Table Miscellany", during the 1720s. It is a moving tale of love,<br>
banishment and<br>
exile, supported by a very beautiful melody. Cowdenknowes is in<br>
Berwickshire, near to the village of Earlston, a place much associated with<br>
the 13th century poet and prophet,<br>
"Thomas The Rhymer".<br>
I got this song years ago, from my friend and neighbour, Archie Fisher.<br>
Sheet<br>
music<br>
How blythe was I each morn tae see<br>
My lass come o'er yon hill<br>
She tripped a burn and ran tae me<br>
I met her with good will.<br>
O the broom, the bonnie, bonnie broom<br>
The broom o the Cowdenknowes<br>
Fain wad I be in my ain country<br>
Herding my faither's yowes<br>
[extra verse found in some other versions]<br>
We neither herded ewes nor lamb<br>
While the flock near us lay<br>
She gathered in the sheep at night<br>
And cheered me all the day<br>
Hard fate that I should banished be<br>
Gang wearily and mourn<br>
Because I loved the fairest lass<br>
That ever yet was born<br>
Fareweel, ye cowdenknowes, fareweel<br>
Fareweel all pleasures there<br>
Tae wander by her side again<br>
Is all I crave or care<br>
<br>