There were five ladies lived in a bouer,
Lived in a bouer at Cumbernaldie;
The fairest and youngest o them a'
Has fa'n in love wi her footman-laddie.

— Here is a letter to you, ladye,
Here is a letter to you, ladye;
The Earl o Hume has written doun
That he will be your footman-laddie. —

— I want nane o his service, Ritchie,
I want nane o his service, Ritchie;
For I 've made a vow, and I 'll keep it true,
That I 'll wed nane but thee, Ritchie. —

— O that canna be, ladye,
O that canna be, ladye;
For I 've neither house nor land,
Nor ought suiting ye, ladye. —

— Livd ye on yonder hill, Ritchie,
Livd ye on yonder hill, Ritchie,
There 's my hand, I 'm at your command,
Marry me whan ye will, Ritchie! —

This boy he went to his bed,
It was a' to try this fair ladye;
But she went up the stair to him:
— Ye maun leave your comrades, Ritchie.

— To the Borders we maun gang, Ritchie,
To the Borders we maun gang, Ritchie,
For an my auld father he get word,
It 's you he will cause hang, Ritchie. —

— To the Borders we 'll na gang, ladye,
To the Borders we 'll na gang, ladye;
For altho your auld father got word,
It 's me he dare na hang, ladye. —

As they passed by her mither's bouer,
O but her sisters they were sorry!
They bade her tak aff the robes o silk,
And muck the byres wi Ritchie Storry.

Whan they cam to yon hie hill,
Dear vow, but the lady she was sorry!
She looked oure her left showther —
— O an I war in bonny Cumbernaldie! —

— O are na ye sorry now, ladye,
O are na ye sorry now, ladye,
For to forsake the Earl o Hume,
And follow me, your footman-laddie? —

— How could I be sorry, Ritchie,
How could I be sorry, Ritchie?
Such a gudely man as you,
And the lot that lies afore me, Ritchie. —

As they rode up through Edinburgh toun,
Her gowd watch hang doun sae gaudie;
Monie a lord made her a bow,
But nane o them thoucht she was Ritchie's ladye.

Whan they cam to Ritchie's yetts,
Dear vow, but the music playd bonnie!
There were four-and-twenty gay ladies
To welcome hame Richard Storry's ladye.

He called for a priest wi speed,
A priest wi speed was soon ready,
And she was na married to the Earl of Hume,
But she blesses the day she got Richard Storry.

A coach and six they did prepare,
A coach and six they did mak ready,
A coach and six they did prepare,
And she blesses the day made her Ritchie's lady.