Traditional
Royal Forester
I am a forester of this land
As you may plainly see
It's the mantle of your maidenhead
That I would have from thee

He's taken her by the milk-white hand
And by the leylan sleeve
He's lain her down upon her back
And asked no man's leave
With me roo-run-rority ri-run-rority ri-no-ority-an

Now since you've lain me down young man
You must take me up again
And since you've had your will on me
Come tell to me your name
With me roo-run-rority ri-run-rority ri-no-ority-an

Some call me Jim, some call me John
Begad it's all the same
But when I'm in the king's hight court
Erwilian is my name
With me roo-run-rority ri-run-rority ri-no-ority-an

She being a good scholar
She's spelt it over again
Erwilian, that's a Latin word
But Willy is your name
With me roo-run-rority ri-run-rority ri-no-ority-an
Now when he heard his name pronounced
He mounted his high horse
She's belted up her petticoat
And followed with all her force
With me roo-run-rority ri-run-rority ri-no-ority-an

He rode and she ran
A long summer day
Until they came by the river
That's commonly called the Tay
With me roo-run-rority ri-run-rority ri-no-ority-an

The water it's too deep my love
I'm afraid you cannot wade
But afore he'd ridden his horse well in
She was on the other side
With me roo-run-rority ri-run-rority ri-no-ority-an

She went up to the king's high door
She knocked and she went in
Said one of your chancellor's robbed me
And he's robbed me right and clean
With me roo-run-rority ri-run-rority ri-no-ority-an

Has he robbed you of your mantle
Has he robbed you of your ring
No he's robbed me of my maidenhead
And another I can't find
With me roo-run-rority ri-run-rority ri-no-ority-an
If he be a married man
Then hanged he shall be
And if he be a single man
He shall marry thee
With me roo-run-rority ri-run-rority ri-no-ority-an

This couple they got married
They live in Huntley town
She's the Earl of Airlie's daughter
And he's the blacksmith's son
With me roo-run-rority ri-run-rority ri-no-ority-an