Full Lyrics
By Marykirk, a sweet bird sang
When trees were green and waters clear;
That sweet bird sang the hale day lang,
And charm’d the hearts o’ men to hear.
But down upon a flow’ry bank
The wily fowler laid his snare,
And in a weary prison cage
The sweet bird pin’d, and sang nae mair.
By Marykirk there bloom’d a flow’r,
Beside the winding Esk it grew;
And, oh, it charm’d the sunny light,
And ilka wanton wind that blew.
But rude hands pu’d that flow’r sae sweet,
And fause lips kiss’d its leaves sae fair;
It faded in a cheerless bow’r,
And charm’d the sight o’ men nae mair.
By Marykirk the birds may sing,
But dowie are their notes to me;
On Craigo haughs the flow’rs may bloom,
But now nae mair delight my e’e.
O Mary! tho’ ye did me wrang,
I’m wae to think o’ your downfa’;
Poor silly bird, sae eithly snar’d,
Sweet flow’r, soon pu’d and flung awa’.
