Irish traditional song lyrics — collected by Beer Belly Band.
It fell aboot the Lama’s tide when Muir men won the day
The dowty Earl o’ Douglas rade in tae England tae catch him a prey
He has chosen the Lindsy’s licht with them the Gordon’s gade
The Earl o’ Fife with vowed and strife and Sir Hugh Montgomery
First they took Northumberland and there to Bambershire
Then on tae dale they burnt it hale and set it all on fire
Then he marched up tae New Castle he raid it roond aboot
Who was the Laird of this castle and was the Lady oot
Up then spake Laird Percy fair and oh but he spake high
I am the Laird o’ this castle my wife’s the lady gay
If thou art the Laird o’ this castle sae weel it pleases me
For ere I cross the border fairs en o’ us shall dee
I shall stay at Otterbourne while ye shall welcome me
Yet come ye not in three days time first lord then I’ll call ye
Oh I will come proud Percy said by the licht o’ loonley dee
I’ll wait ye there Lord Douglas said my pledge I give tae thee
He belted en his good braed saird in tae the field he ran
But he forgot the helmet good that should he kept his brains
When Percy wa’ the Douglas met I what he was frew frame
He swacked their sairds aye sair they swad till blood ran doon like rain
Percy wa’ his good braed saird and good tae sharply wound
Has cut the Douglas on the brood till they fell upon the groond
The wound was deep he’ fain would sleep right by the bracken tree
He’s laid him doon all wounded sair beside the lily reeds
The moon was clear the day drew near ‘the spears and flinders flew
And monys the gallant English man that day the Scotsman slew
The Gordon’s gird in English blood they steeped their hose and shoen
The Lindsay’s flew like fire aboot until the day was done
Then Percy and Montgomery met with all the fog a’tween
They swapped blaws and aye the swad till the blood ran doon between
We shall not yield tae lord or loon nor shall ye yield tae me
But yield ye tae yon Brackenbush beside the lily reed
I’ll not yield tae Brackenbush nor will I tae a fire
But I would yield tae Earl Douglas or tae Hugh Montgomery
When he found out it was Montgomery he stuck his sword in the ground
Said Hugh he was a courteous nicht and took him by the hand
For he had dreamed a dreary dream a fore that fateful day
He saw a deed man win the field a deed man doon he lay
And battle was done at Otterbourne at the breakin’ o’ the day
Lord Douglas was buried at the Brackenbush and Percy does not away