Oh mother, mother gan ye hame,
Yer sons ye'll na'er more see;
For by the green o' Arkinholm,
Your sons will for me will dee. (Chorus)
It fell about the month o' may,
When wee birds sing sae clear;
It fell upon that summer's day,
Three brothers died sae sair.
Oh mother, mother gan ye hame,
Yer sons ye'll na'er more see;
For by the green o' Arkinholm,
Your sons will for me will dee.
And did our sires in ages past
No bear the brunt o' gree? [i.e.
Be of degree, be noble, excel, in ref. the Black Douglases]
And did our sires no stand the last,
Tae keep this nation free?
Oh mother, mother gan ye hame,
Yer sons ye'll na'er more see;
For by the green o' Arkinholm,
Your sons will for me will dee.
O brother, brother, gan ye hame,
And bless your brothers three;
Or by the braies o' Arkinholm,
The Douglases will dee.
Oh mother, mother gan ye hame,
Yer sons ye'll na'er more see;
For by the green o' Arkinholm,
Your sons will for me will dee.
And did we no' fecht side by side,
When fell the broadsword sair?
And did we no fall like the stag,
Which dee sae proud but dear?
Oh mother, mother gan ye hame,
Yer sons ye'll na'er more see;
For by the green o' Arkinholm,
Your sons will for me will dee.
And is it time yet, brother John,
Tae herd the sheep this day?
A wolf the hunter, hawk, and hound
Will join this day tae slay.
Oh mother, mother gan ye hame,
Yer sons ye'll na'er more see;
For by the green o' Arkinholm,
Your sons will for me will dee.
And is there, doun by yon field
A bonnie rowan tree?
An by the light o' silvery stars
Wha' fell in vain for me?
Oh mother, mother gan ye hame,
Yer sons ye'll na'er more see;
For by the green o' Arkinholm,
Your sons will for me will dee.
Oh mother, mother gan ye hame,
Yer sons ye'll na'er more see;
For by the green o' Arkinholm,
Your sons will for me will dee.