The Bonnie House Of Airlie

Summary: Sir John is fighting in york and Arguile sees this as his chance to plunder his land. Unfortunatly, Arguile also wants his wife and when she refuses him he lets his soldiers run riot over Airlie forcing her to watch. She stands firm and says that she and all her sons would never fight for him.

Moral: You can't break a comunities spirit by plundering and killing

It fell on a day, a bonnie bonnie day
When the corn grew green and yellow
That there fell out a great dispute
Between Argyle and Airlie

The lady was looking over the castle wall
And oh but she looks weary
And there she spies the great Argyle
Come to plunder the bonnie house of Airlie

Come down the stairs lady, he said,
Come down and kiss me fairly
I’ll not come down nor kiss you, she said,
Though you won’t leave a standing stone at Airlie

He’s taken her by her left shoulder
And oh but she looks weary
He led her up to the top of the town
Made her watch the plundering of Airlie

Fire on fire on my many men all,
And see that you fire clearly
I vow and I swear by the broad sword I wear
I won’t leave a standing stone at Airlie

If the great Sir John had been but at home
As he is this night wi’ Prince Charlie
Neither Argyle nor any Scottish lord
Dare have plundered the bonnie house of Airlie

Seven seven sons I’ve born unto him
And the eighth ne’er saw his daddy
If I were to bear a hundred more
They’d all draw sword for Prince Charlie

Oh if I were to bear a hundred more
They’d all draw sword for Prince Charlie

Additional Information:

This song featured in Dave's Angle on episode 48 of the Garden Sessions FREE fortnightly internet radio show (or Podcast).