Broom Of The Cowden Knowes
Sing Out. 17th Century Scottish. Child #217 Recorded by Clutha- Bonny Mildams, Silly Wizard
Cowden Knowes is pronounced "cow-den nahs"

            C              Em           F       Am
How blithe each morn was I tae see
         F               C          F     G(7)
My lass came o'er the hill
  C                            Em           F         C
   She skipped the burn and ran tae me
  F                                G    G7
  I met her with good will.

                C           Em             F                       Am
Chorus:  O the broom, the bonnie, bonnie broom
              F                 C            F     G(7)
The broom o’ the cowdenknowes
C                     Em            F           C
   Fain would I be in my ain country
F                                 G    G7
Herding my father's ewes

         C         Em         F            Am
We neither herded ewes nor lamb
 F                  C                   F     G(7)
   While the flock near us lay
C                      Em            F           C
   She gathered in the sheep at night
F                                       G    G7
  And cheered me all the day               Chorus

           C        Em             F             Am
Hard fate that I should banished be
 F             C            F          G(7)
    Gone way o'er hill and moor
C                    Em          F          C
  Because I loved the fairest lass
F                                 G    G7
   That ever yet was born          Chorus

       C          Em         F          Am
Adieu, ye cowdenknowes, adieu
           F              C                F     G(7)
Fareweel all pleasures there
C                 Em         F         C
   To wander by her side again
F                             G    G7
   Is all I crave or care               Chorus
 

Return to the Scottish Songs
Return to Siobhan's Bard Book
Return to Dreamspinners Guild