Ye Banks & Braes

Traditional Scottish Folk Song

Arranged by Ollie Lambert

6-parts - SAATTB

The Banks O' Doon is a Scots song, sometimes known as Ye Banks and Braes. The lyrics were written in 1791 by the celebrated Scottish poet Robert Burns and tell a true story of false love and betrayal. Burns was inspired by the story of heiress Margaret Kennedy. Her life was suddenly thrown into uncertainty upon being seduced by an older man who proposed marriage. When he suddenly abandoned her, she found herself broken hearted and pregnant with his child. “An my fause lover stole my rose - But, ah! he left the thorn wi' me” is a metaphor for Andrew McDouall stealing away her heart and leaving her to bring up their child alone. Although he was the son of a wealthy family he did not provide Margaret with any assistance, financial or otherwise, until she took legal action 10 years later. It is said that the court case led her pain to resurface and resulted in her early death at the young age of 29.