There were three sisters lived in a booer Hey ho bonnie An' they a' went oot for tae pu' a flooer On the bonnie banks o' Fordie An' they hadna pu'ed a flower but yin Hey ho bonnie When it's up there stapped a banished man On the bonnie banks o' Fordie He's taen the first yin by the hand Hey ho bonnie And he's turned her 'roond and he's made her stand On the bonnie banks o' Fordie Sayin', "Will ye be a robber's wife? Hey ho bonnie Or will ye die by my penknife On the bonnie banks o' Fordie?" "Oh I'll no be a robber's wife Hey ho bonnie I'd raither die by your penknife On the bonnie banks o' Fordie" So he's taen oot his wee penknife Hey ho bonnie And there he's twined her o' her life On the bonnie banks o' Fordie So he's taen the second by the hand Hey ho bonnie And he's turned her 'roond and he's made her stand On the bonnie banks o' Fordie Sayin', "Will ye be a robber's wife Hey ho bonnie Or will ye die by my penknife On the bonnie banks o' Fordie?" "Oh I'll no be a robber's wife Hey ho bonnie I'd raither die by your penknife On the bonnie banks o' Fordie" He's taen oot his wee penknife Hey ho bonnie And there he's twined her o' her life On the bonnie banks o' Fordie He's taen the third yin by the hand Hey ho bonnie And he's turned her 'roond and he's made her stand On the bonnie banks o' Fordie Sayin', "Will ye be a robber's wife Hey ho bonnie Or will ye die by my penknife On the bonnie banks o' Fordie?" "Oh I'll no be a robber's wife Hey ho bonnie Nor will I die by your penknife On the bonnie banks o' Fordie For I hae a brother in yonder tree Hey ho bonnie And gin ye'll kill me, well, it's he'll kill ye On the bonnie banks o' Fordie" "Come tell tae me yer brother's name" Hey ho bonnie "My brother's name, it is Babylon" On the bonnie banks o' Fordie "Oh sister, I hae done this ill Hey ho bonnie I hae done this dreadful ill tae ye On the bonnie banks o' Fordie" He's taen oot his wee penknife Hey ho bonnie And there he's twined his ain dear life On the bonnie banks o' Fordie