Leaned her back against an oak, Stirling for ay
Leaned her back against an oak, first it bent and then it broke
And Bonny St. Johnstone lies fair upon Tay
Leaned her back against a thorn
Two bonniest babes that e'er were born
She took out her milk-white breast
And bid them suck, though it was the last
She took out her little knife
And stabbed away their tender life
Washed the knife all in a brook
The more she washed, the redder it looked
She looks over her father's wall
And sees two babes a-playing at ball
O babes, if you were mine
I'd dress you in the silk so fine
Mother, when we were thine
Around our necks you pulled the twine
Now we're in the heaven so high
And in hell fires you shall die