Johnny O' Braidislee - Old Blind Dogs

Johnny arose on a May mornin'

Gone for water tae wash his hands

He hae loused tae me his twa gray dogs

That lie bound in iron bands

When Johnny’s mother, she heard o' this

Her hands for dule she wrang

Cryin', «Johnny, for yer venison

Tae the green woods dinna ye gang»

Aye, but Johnny hae taen his good benbow

His arrows one by one

Aye, and he’s awa tae green wood gaen

Tae dae the dun deer doon

Oh Johnny, he shot, and the dun deer lapp’t

He wounded her in the side

Aye, between the water and the wood

The gray dogs laid their pride

It’s by there cam' a silly auld man

Wi' an ill that John he might dee

And he’s awa' doon tae Esslemont

Well, the King’s seven foresters tae see

It’s up and spake the first forester

He was heid ane amang them a'

«Can this be Johnny O' Braidislee?

Untae him we will draw»

An' the first shot that the foresters, they fired

They wounded John in the knee

An' the second shot that the foresters, they fired

Well, his hairt’s blood blint his e’e

But he’s leaned his back against an oak

An' his foot against a stane

Oh and he hae fired on the seven foresters

An' he’s killed them a' but ane

Aye, he hae broke fower o' this man’s ribs

His airm and his collar bain

Oh and he has sent him on a horse

For tae carry the tidings hame

Johnny’s good benbow, it lies broke

His twa gray dogs, they lie deid

And his body, it lies doon in Monymusk

And his huntin' days are daen

His huntin' days are daen