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The Broom of the Cowdenknowes
Traditional 
Words, music and chords appear in The Andy M. Stewart Collection, pub. 1998

One verse and chorus: MP3 (345K) Entire song: MP3 (2.2meg) "The Broom of the Cowdenknowes" is performed by Andy M. Stewart Please refer to Cantaria's Copyright information

Notes from Andy:  Easily traceable back to the early seventeenth century where it appears in a small collection as "The Lovely Northerne Lass." Allan Ramsay also published a version in his "Tea Table Miscellany", during the 1720s. It is a moving tale of love, banishment and exile, supported by a very beautiful melody. Cowdenknowes is in Berwickshire, near to the village of Earlston, a place much associated with the 13th century poet and prophet, "Thomas The Rhymer".  I got this song years ago, from my friend and neighbour, Archie Fisher.

Sheet music

How blythe was I each morn tae see 
My lass come o'er yon hill 
She tripped a burn and ran tae me 
I met her with good will. 

O the broom, the bonnie, bonnie broom 
The broom o the Cowdenknowes 
Fain wad I be in my ain country 
Herding my faither's yowes 

[extra verse found in some other versions]
We neither herded ewes nor lamb 
While the flock near us lay 
She gathered in the sheep at night 
And cheered me all the day 

Hard fate that I should banished be 
Gang wearily and mourn 
Because I loved the fairest lass 
That ever yet was born 

Fareweel, ye cowdenknowes, fareweel 
Fareweel all pleasures there 
Tae wander by her side again 
Is all I crave or care 

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