Page 11
Birkin = Northern English and Scotch form of birchen (Birch Tree)
Birkin Tree, The
by trad
Intro as second half of verse:
[Dm] [C]
[Dm] [C] [Am] [Dm]
Oh [Dm] lass, gin' ye would think it right
Tae [C] gyang wi' me this [Am] very night
We'll [Dm] cuddle tae the mornin' light
By [Dm] a' the lave un- [C9] seen O [Am]
And [Dm] ye will be my dearie
My [C] ain dearest dearie
It's [Dm] ye will be my dearie
Gin ye [C] meet me at [Am] e'en [Dm] O
I canna for my mammy gae
She locks the door and keeps the key
And in the mornin' charges me
And aye aboot the men O
For she says they're a' deceivers
Deceivers, deceivers
She says they're a' deceivers
Ye canna trust ane O
Oh nivver min' yer mammy's yell
Nae doot she met yer dad hersel'
And should she flyte, ye can tell her
She's aft times done the same O
So lassie, gie's yer hand on't
Yer bonnie milk-white hand on't
Lassie, gie's yer hand on't
And scorn tae lie yer lane O
Oh lad, my haun' I canna gi'e
But aiblins I man steal the key
And I'll meet ye at yon birkin tree
That grows doon in the glen O
But dinna lippen, laddie [dinna lippen = don't rely]
I canna promise, laddie
Oh dinna lippen, laddie
In case I canna win O
So he's gaen tae the birkin tree
In hopes his ain true tae see
Fa come trippin' ower the lea
But just his bonnie Jean O
And she's clinkit doon beside him
Beside him, beside him
She's clinkit doon beside him [clinkit = quickly sat]
Amangst the grass sae green O
"I'm overjoyed wi' rapture noo"
Quo' he, and preed his cherry moo'
And Jeannie ne'er had cause tae rue
That nicht upon the green O
For she has got her Johnny
Her ain lovin' Johnny
It's she has got her Johnny
And Johnny's got his Jean O
[Dm] [C]
[Dm] [C] [Am] [Dm]
Oh [Dm] lass, gin' ye would think it right
Tae [C] gyang wi' me this [Am] very night
We'll [Dm] cuddle tae the mornin' light
By [Dm] a' the lave un- [C9] seen O [Am]
And [Dm] ye will be my dearie
My [C] ain dearest dearie
It's [Dm] ye will be my dearie
Gin ye [C] meet me at [Am] e'en [Dm] O
I canna for my mammy gae
She locks the door and keeps the key
And in the mornin' charges me
And aye aboot the men O
For she says they're a' deceivers
Deceivers, deceivers
She says they're a' deceivers
Ye canna trust ane O
Oh nivver min' yer mammy's yell
Nae doot she met yer dad hersel'
And should she flyte, ye can tell her
She's aft times done the same O
So lassie, gie's yer hand on't
Yer bonnie milk-white hand on't
Lassie, gie's yer hand on't
And scorn tae lie yer lane O
Oh lad, my haun' I canna gi'e
But aiblins I man steal the key
And I'll meet ye at yon birkin tree
That grows doon in the glen O
But dinna lippen, laddie [dinna lippen = don't rely]
I canna promise, laddie
Oh dinna lippen, laddie
In case I canna win O
So he's gaen tae the birkin tree
In hopes his ain true tae see
Fa come trippin' ower the lea
But just his bonnie Jean O
And she's clinkit doon beside him
Beside him, beside him
She's clinkit doon beside him [clinkit = quickly sat]
Amangst the grass sae green O
"I'm overjoyed wi' rapture noo"
Quo' he, and preed his cherry moo'
And Jeannie ne'er had cause tae rue
That nicht upon the green O
For she has got her Johnny
Her ain lovin' Johnny
It's she has got her Johnny
And Johnny's got his Jean O