In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
There were three sisters lived in a booer
Hey ho bonnie
An' they a' went oot for tae pu' a flooer
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie
An' they hadna pu'ed a flower but yin
Hey ho bonnie
When it's up there stapped a banished man
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie
He's taen the first yin by the hand
Hey ho bonnie
And he's turned her 'roond and he's made her stand
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie
Sayin', "Will ye be a robber's wife?
Hey ho bonnie
Or will ye die by my penknife
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie?"
"Oh I'll no be a robber's wife
Hey ho bonnie
I'd raither die by your penknife
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie"
So he's taen oot his wee penknife
Hey ho bonnie
And there he's twined her o' her life
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie
So he's taen the second by the hand
Hey ho bonnie
And he's turned her 'roond and he's made her stand
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie
Sayin', "Will ye be a robber's wife
Hey ho bonnie
Or will ye die by my penknife
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie?"
"Oh I'll no be a robber's wife
Hey ho bonnie
I'd raither die by your penknife
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie"
He's taen oot his wee penknife
Hey ho bonnie
And there he's twined her o' her life
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie
He's taen the third yin by the hand
Hey ho bonnie
And he's turned her 'roond and he's made her stand
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie
Sayin', "Will ye be a robber's wife
Hey ho bonnie
Or will ye die by my penknife
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie?"
"Oh I'll no be a robber's wife
Hey ho bonnie
Nor will I die by your penknife
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie
For I hae a brother in yonder tree
Hey ho bonnie
And gin ye'll kill me, well, it's he'll kill ye
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie"
"Come tell tae me yer brother's name"
Hey ho bonnie
"My brother's name, it is Babylon"
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie
"Oh sister, I hae done this ill
Hey ho bonnie
I hae done this dreadful ill tae ye
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie"
He's taen oot his wee penknife
Hey ho bonnie
And there he's twined his ain dear life
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie
Hey ho bonnie
An' they a' went oot for tae pu' a flooer
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie
An' they hadna pu'ed a flower but yin
Hey ho bonnie
When it's up there stapped a banished man
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie
He's taen the first yin by the hand
Hey ho bonnie
And he's turned her 'roond and he's made her stand
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie
Sayin', "Will ye be a robber's wife?
Hey ho bonnie
Or will ye die by my penknife
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie?"
"Oh I'll no be a robber's wife
Hey ho bonnie
I'd raither die by your penknife
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie"
So he's taen oot his wee penknife
Hey ho bonnie
And there he's twined her o' her life
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie
So he's taen the second by the hand
Hey ho bonnie
And he's turned her 'roond and he's made her stand
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie
Sayin', "Will ye be a robber's wife
Hey ho bonnie
Or will ye die by my penknife
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie?"
"Oh I'll no be a robber's wife
Hey ho bonnie
I'd raither die by your penknife
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie"
He's taen oot his wee penknife
Hey ho bonnie
And there he's twined her o' her life
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie
He's taen the third yin by the hand
Hey ho bonnie
And he's turned her 'roond and he's made her stand
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie
Sayin', "Will ye be a robber's wife
Hey ho bonnie
Or will ye die by my penknife
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie?"
"Oh I'll no be a robber's wife
Hey ho bonnie
Nor will I die by your penknife
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie
For I hae a brother in yonder tree
Hey ho bonnie
And gin ye'll kill me, well, it's he'll kill ye
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie"
"Come tell tae me yer brother's name"
Hey ho bonnie
"My brother's name, it is Babylon"
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie
"Oh sister, I hae done this ill
Hey ho bonnie
I hae done this dreadful ill tae ye
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie"
He's taen oot his wee penknife
Hey ho bonnie
And there he's twined his ain dear life
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie
Lyrics submitted by Ceredin
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