Heir Of Linne

The bonny heir and the well-faired heir

The handsome heir of Linne

Yonder he stands at his father's gate

And nobody bids him in

See where he goes and see where he stands

The weary heir of Linne

Yonder he stands on the cold causeway

And nobody bids him in

He's sold his father's estate and land

He's sold it on a day

Within three quarters of a year

He's not one brass penny

For he has drunk of the wine so clear

Good company spent his gold

And now he wanders on the shore

Hungry, wet and cold

His nurse at her window she looked out

Beholding dale and down

And there she saw this sad young man

Come walking to the town

Come here, come here my child, she said

And rest yourself with me

I've seen you in much better days

In jovial company

Give me a slice of your bread, Nursey

And a bottle of your wine

I'll pay you for it o'er again

When I'm the Lord of Linne

You'll get a slice of my bread, my child

And a bottle of my wine

But pay me when the seas run dry

You'll never be Lord of Linne

Then he has turned him right about

As any mother's son

So off he has set and found his way

And straightway came to Linne

But when he came to the castle strong

They were all sat down to dine

A score of nobles there he saw

Sat drinking at the wine

Some said: Give him the beef, the beef

Some said: Give him the bone

And some said: Give him nothing at all

But let the beggar roam

Then up and spake the new-come lord

A saucy word spoke he

Pass round the cup, let my rival sup

Then send him on his way

He's turned him right and round about

As any father's son

He's reminded of a leaden key

His father left with him

His father left a meagre key

Just before he died

He bade him keep it secretly

Till he was most in need

The forth he went, these nobles left

All drinking in the hall

And he has found a bolted door

Below the castle wall

The key has opened up the door

Wherein lies all his hope

But where he thought to find good gold

There stood a gibbet and rope

Under the rope was placed a stool

All covered o'er with dust

The father had condemned the son

His sentence it was just

The son he sighed, stood on the stool

Never a word he spoke

But as he jumped to eternity

Down the gibbet broke

It broke and cracked above his head

He landed on the floor

And round him rolling, shining bright

Was a hidden golden store

Oft have I gone with bitter cold feet

Likewise with legs all bare

And many days walked at these gates

With sad sorrow and care

But now my sorrow's past and gone

Joy has all returned

Now that I have gold enough

To buy my lands again

As he galloped back through town

He jubilantly crowed

And he's called out before them all

The nurse from out her house

Come here, come here my nurse, he said

I'll pay you bread and wine

Seas ebb and flow as they will

Yet I'm the Lord of Linne

He's gone up the Gallowgate port

In tatty hose and gown

But he was carried by fifteen lords

When he came back down