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Bonnie Banks of Virgie​-​O

from Safe & Sound: Traditional Canadian Folk Songs by Maura Volante

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about

From the singing of Ken Peacock, Folkways, Songs and Ballads of Newfoundland,. Collected by Peacock, probably from Mr. & Mrs. Monks.

It is a variant of Child 14, also called “Banks of Fordie,” “Banks of Airdrie,” and “Babylon.”

lyrics

Bonnie Banks of Virgie-O

Three young ladies went for a walk
All alone and a-lonely-o,
They met a robber on their way,
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Virgie-O.

He took the first one by the hand,
All alone …
He whipped her around and made her stand,
On the …

“Will you be a robber’s wife,
All alone …
Or will you die by my penknife?”
On the …

“I will not be a robber’s wife,
All alone …
I’d rather die by your penknife,”
On the …

He then took out his little penknife,
All alone …
And there he took her own sweet life,
On the …

He took the second one by the hand,
All alone …
He whipped her around and made her stand,
On the …

“Will you be a robber’s wife,
All alone …
Or will you die by my penknife?”
On the …

“I will not be a robber’s wife,
All alone …
I’d rather die by your penknife,”
On the …

He then took out his little penknife,
All alone …
And there he took her own sweet life,
On the …

He took the third one by the hand,
All alone …
He whipped her around and made her stand,
On the …

“Will you be a robber’s wife,
All alone …
Or will you die by my penknife?”
On the …

“I will not be a robber’s wife,
All alone …
And I’ll not die by your penknife,”
On the …

“If my brothers had been here,
All alone …
You would not have murdered my sisters, dear,”
On the …

“What are your brothers, I pray you tell,”
All alone …
“One is a robber like yourself,”
On the …

“What is the other, I pray you tell,
All alone …
“The other is a minister,”
On the …

“Oh my God, what have I done?,
All alone …
I’ve murdered my sisters, all but one,”
On the …

He then took out his little penknife,
All alone …
And there he took his own sweet life,
On the …

credits

from Safe & Sound: Traditional Canadian Folk Songs, released April 1, 2022
Maura Volante, vocals
Ann Downey, vocals
Fern Vale, vocals

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Maura Volante Ottawa, Ontario

Maura Volante is a singer of traditional folk songs, with a focus on those collected in Canada. She discovered folk music in the 1960s and has deepened her understanding over the decades. Maura has performed at festivals, coffee houses, concerts and living rooms all over Canada (and worldwide on Zoom), as well as passing on her knowledge and enthusiasm through workshops, courses and lessons. ... more

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