> Folk Music > Songs > Andrew Lammie / Mill o’ Tifty’s Annie
Andrew Lammie / Mill o’ Tifty’s Annie
[
Roud 98
; Child 233
; G/D 5:1018
; Ballad Index C233
; VWML CJS2/10/4157
; DT MILTIFTY
, MILTIFT2
; Mudcat 2140
; trad.]
Everyman’s Book of British Ballads Last Leaves of Traditional Ballads and Ballad Airs The Oxford Book of Ballads The Seeds of Love Traveller’s Joy Songs From North-East Scotland
Jeannie Robertson sang Bonnie Annie and Andrew Lammie to Alan Lomax in London in November 1953. This recording was included in 1998 on her Rounder CD The Queen Among the Heather. A version sung by her nephew Stanley Robertson to Mike Yates in Aberdeen on 23 March 2002 was included in 2002 on Yates’ Kyloe anthology of songs, stories and ballads from Scottish Travellers, Travellers’ Tales Volume 1, and in 2006 in Mike Yates’ book of songs of English and Scottish travellers and gypsies, Traveller’s Joy.
Lucy Stewart of Fetterangus, Aberdeenshire, sang Tifty’s Annie on 2 January 1960 to Kenneth S. Goldstein. This recording was included in the following year on her Folkways album Traditional Singer From Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Vol. 1 - Child Ballads. Goldstein noted:
This local Aberdeenshire ballad, still very popular with the country population there, relates to one Agnes (Annie) Smith whose repaired gravestone may still be seen in Fyvie churchyard, where the date of her death is given as 19 January 1673. The ballad has frequently been reported in Scotland from the middle of the 18th century on, with most 19th and 20th century texts being so standardised as to suggest a great dependency on frequent printings in chapbooks. Indeed, Peter Buchan, the over-maligned Aberdeenshire collector and publisher of the beginning of the 19th century, claims to have sold 30,000 copies of a chapbook version of the ballad.
As it appears in chapbook and modern printings the ballad is rather long, extending to some 50 plus stanzas. Lucy Stewart’s version is an ideal example of the economy of the best traditional ballad singers, who simply shear away extraneous story matter to present a full ballad tale in a minimum of verses. Lucy’s present version is a very consciously shortened text. When I told her that I had collected a 52 verse version from another singer some few days after I first recorded her 14 stanza version, she replied that she knew many more stanzas, but that the way she sang it told the same story. To prove her point, she proceeded to sing over 40 stanzas before running out of breath. In later recordings of her singing the same ballad, she occasionally sang other stanzas but rarely did her texts run to over 15 stanzas, retaining the full ballad tale throughout.
For additional. texts and information, see: Child, Vol. IV, pp. 300ff; Greig & Keith, pp. 174-179; Coffin, pp. 136-137.
Sheila Stewart sang Mill o’ Tifty’s Annie on the 1968 Topic album of songs and ballads from the Lowland East of Scotland, Back o’ Benachie, and 30 years later on her CD From the Heart of the Tradition. In this video she sings it to Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger in 1980:
Ray Fisher sang Mill o’ Tifty’s Annie in 1972 on her Trailer album The Bonny Birdy.
The Boys of the Lough sang Andrew Lammie in 1973 on their Trailer album The Boys of the Lough.
Jane Turriff of Mintlaw, Aberdeenshire, sang Mill o Tifty’s Annie on the 1975 Tangent anthology The Muckle Sangs (Scottish Tradition Volume 5). She also sang it in a 1973 recording that was included in 1996 on her Springthyme CD Singin’ Is Ma Life. That album’s liner notes commented:
Mill o Tifty’s Annie is one of Jane’s favourite songs and one with strong local connections and claims of authenticity. Though she knows fifty-two verses, like many singers, she sings a shortened version, concentrating on the parts that to her carry the greatest emotional impact. Sometimes in verse nine, she sings a lovely variant, “I will bring to you o bridal shoon/ An oh bit dearie they will be bonnie” that does not appear in any of the Greig-Duncan or Child texts but, apart from that, her text is quite stable from rendition to rendition.
Jane has known and sung the song for nearly seventy years, and used to sing it to her husband Cameron’s mother.
Jean Redpath sang Mill o’ Tifty’s Annie on her 1977 album Song of the Seals. She noted:
In his introduction to this local Aberdeenshire ballad, Professor Child says that it “relates to one Agnes Smith whose repaired gravestone in Fyvie indicates that she died on 19 January 1673”. The tune is common in the area, having been used for several ballads; the 19th and 20th century texts show the standardising effect of printing. Printed broadsheets were a thriving trade in the Northeast where literacy was no problem. By the beginning of this century printed sources were resulting in gems like…
“No kind of vice ere stained my life
Or hurt my virgin honour
My youthful heart was won by love
But death will me exoner” !!The present text is collated from several sources.
Ewan MacColl sang Andrew Lammie in 1986 on his and Peggy Seeger’s Blackthorne album Blood & Roses Volume 5. He noted:
The sixteen versions of this ballad given by Bronson all include the heroine’s name in the title. They are either called Tiftie’s Annie or Mill o’ Tiftie’s Annie or Tiftie’s Bonnie Annie but never Andrew Lammie. This may not be of any great import except insofar as it typifies the 19th-century scholarly practice of assigning secondary roles to women.
The ‘Annie’ of the ballad is said to have been Agnes Smith who is buried in the churchyard at Fyvie. The inscription tells us that she died in January 1673.
Robin Laing sang Andrew Lammie in 1989 on his Greentrax album Edinburgh Skyline. He noted:
A traditional ballad on the common theme of family disapproval of romantic love between people not socially compatible. This theme has a lot to do with the importance of marriage and inheritance and may even hint back to a time of arranged marriage.
Sheena Wellington sang Mill o’ Tifty’s Annie in a concert at Nit ten (Newtongrange) Folk Club, Scotland, that was published in 1995 on her Greentrax CD Strong Women. She noted:
The flat gravestone that bears the name, Agnes Smith, and date of death, 10 January 1673, of the tragic heroine of this powerful ballad is in the kirkyard of Fyvie in Aberdeenshire. At nearby Fyvie castle on one of the turrets can be seen the gargoyle-like representation of the trumpeter Andrew Lammie. Lammie was reputed to have knowledge of the black arts, hence the notion that he had ‘bewitched’ Bonnie Annie. I have been singing this unaccompanied for years but I do like the sensitive backing that Ewen [Sutherland] and Simon [Thoumire] have provided.
Gordeanna McCulloch sang Mill o’ Tifty’s Annie on the 1997 Fellside anthology Ballads. Paul Adams noted:
The heroine is reputed to be one Annie Smith who died in 1673 and was buried in Fyvie Churchyard. Certainly the song has the feel of a ballad of considerable age. It’s tune is a close relation of other “classic ballads” (c.f. Dowie Dens of Yarrow, Georgie, Barbara Allen). Gordeanna’s source for this song was the fine Scots traditional singer, Sheila Stewart.
Susie Allan sang Mill o’ Tifty’s Annie on her 1998 album Tipsy Courting. She noted:
This ballad is 400 years old, and tells a true story from Fyvie, Aberdeenshire, where Annie’s grave can still be found. There’s a statue of Andrew at Fyvie Castle.
Old Blind Dogs sang Mill o’ Tifty in 1999 on their CD The World’s Room. Susie Malcolm (Allan) noted:
Also known as Andrew Lammie, this traditional “muckle ballad” tells the true story of Agnes Smith, a miller’s daughter who lived near Fyvie in Aberdeenshire. She fell in love with Lord Fyvie’s trumpeter, a man below her station, then compounded her troubles by spurning his employer. For this “sin” she was killed by her brother. Her gravestone still stands in Fyvie kirkyard, dated 1673.
Billy Ross sang Mill o’ Tifty’s Annie in 2000 on his Greentrax album Shore Street. He noted:
Annie’s flat gravestone lies in Fyvie kirkyard dated 1673 and is surmounted by a later monumental stone upon which is carved two intertwining trees. The ruined mill lies about a mile and a quarter Northeast of Fyvie Castle.
Kate Rusby sang Andrew Lammie in 2007 on her CD Awkward Annie.
Martin Simpson sang Andrew Lammie in 2007 on his Topic CD Prodigal Son. He noted:
Andrew Lammie or Mill o’ Tifty’s Annie is a very big ballad indeed. Seemingly based on the life of Agnes Smith, daughter of William Smith, a close relative to the Laird of Inveramsay. According to F.J. Child who numbers this ballad 233 in The English and Scottish Popular Ballads, Agnes’ gravestone is dated 19 January 1673. Mill of Tiftie was a mill and house standing a mere half mile North East of the castle of Fyvie, so the Lord would have regularly ridden by the door. I first heard this sung by Ray Fisher and compiled these lyrics from various sources. Just in case we thought honour killing to be a shocking new event, here it is in our high society.
Chris Miles sang Mill o’ Tiftie’s Annie at the Fife Traditional Singing Festival, Collessie, Fife in May 2009. This recording was included a year later on the festival anthology, There’s Bound to Be a Row (Old Songs & Bothy Ballads Volume 6). The liner notes commented:
Annie, daughter of a well-to-do miller loses her heart to a handsome trumpeter Andrew Lammie in the service of Lord Fyvie. Her father does not approve of such a match, she is mistreated by her family and eventually killed by her brother while Andrew is away in Edinburgh. When Peter Buchan printed his Gleanings in 1828 he referred to this as “one of the greatest favourites of the people of Aberdeenshire” and it remained popular into the 20th century with ten variants of tune and text in the Greig-Duncan collection. Chris sings a much condensed version but broadsheet copies of the ballad (Child 233) were printed in great numbers in the 1800s and in these there are as many as 50 or more verses.
Rosaleen Gregory sang The Trumpeter of Fyvie in 2012 on her first album of Child ballads, Sheath and Knife. She noted:
A dark domestic tragedy based, allegedly, on true events occurring in 17th century Scotland. Andrew Lammie is Lord Fyvie’s trumpeter, not of sufficiently high social standing to wed his daughter. The couple fall in love, with tragic consequences when Andrew is forced to leave her alone to the tender mercies of her family.
The Spiers Family sang Tifty’s Annie in ca 2012 on their album Plenty Brass and a Bonny Lass. They noted:
A very popular ballad in North East Scotland where it comes from. It tells of an ill-fated love affair between Agnes Smith (Annie) and Andrew Lambe (Lammie). Tom [Spiers] has distilled his version from the much longer ballad.
Dougie Mackenzie sang Mill o’ Tifty’s Annie on his 2019 Greentrax album Along the Way. He noted:
Again, has the lot: love, class discrimination, the airt (witchcraft) and family murder. Versions are found in Child and the Greig-Duncan Collection Vol 5. The mill is now a ruin and Agnes (Anne) Smith is buried in Fyvie Kirkyard.
Iona Fyfe sang Mill o’ Tifty’s Annie unaccompanied in 2020 on her download album Ballads Vol. I. In this video from January 2020 she sings Mill o’ Tifty’s Annie accompanied by Aidan Moodie:
Fiona Ross sang Mill o’ Tifty’s Annie in 2020 on her and Shane O’Mara’s CD Sunwise Turn. She noted:
This muckle ballad tells the tragic, true story of Agnes Smith, affectionately known as Annie. Annie was the daughter of the local miller. She fell in love with Lord Fyvie’s servant—the trumpeter Andrew Lammie. Annie’s family disapproved of this relationship, believing Andrew to be beneath Annie’s station. Annie’s family turned on her and she was eventually killed by her brother. She died on 10 January 1673 and is buried in Fyvie Kirkyard.
Karine Polwart sang Mill o’ Tifty’s Annie in 2022 on Su-a Lee’s CD Dialogues.
Lyrics
Lucy Stewart sings Tifty’s Annie
In the Mill o’ Tifty lived a man,
In the neighbourhood of Fyvie,
He had a lovely daughter fair,
Whose name was bonnie Annie.
Lord Fyvie had a trumpeter
Whose name was Andrew Lammie
Who had the art to gain the heart
Of Mill o’ Tifty’s Annie.
Her mother called her to the door,
Come here to me, my Annie,
Did ever you see such a prettier man
Then the trumpeter o’ Fyvie.
O nothing she said but thinking sore,
Alas for bonnie Annie,
She durst not own her heart was won
By the trumpeter o’ Fyvie.
Her father came to hear o’ this,
And a letter wrote to Fyvie,
To tell his daughter had been bewitched
By his servant Andrew Lammie.
Her father locked the door at night
Laid by the keys full canny,
An’ when he heard the trumpet sound,
He said, Your coo is lowin’, Annie.
O father dear, I pray forbear,
Reproach not your Annie;
I would rather hear that cow in low
Than a’ yer kye in Fyvie.
But if ye strike me I will cry
An’ gentlemen will hear me,
Lord Fyvie he’ll come ridin’ by
An’ he’ll come in an see me.
Her father struck her wondrous sore,
And also did her mother,
Her sisters also did her scorn
Ah, but woe to be her brother.
Her brother struck her wondrous sore
Wi’ cruel strokes, aye, an’ many,
He broke her back in yon ha’ door
For lovin’ Andrew Lammie.
At that same time the Lord comes in,
He said, What ails thee, Annie?
It’s all for love that I must die
For lovin’ Andrew Lammie.
O mother dear, make me my bed
An’ lay my face til Fyvie,
It’s there I’ll lie till I will die
For lovin’ Andrew Lammie.
Her mother then she made her bed,
An’ turn’t her face to Fyvie;
Her tender hairt then soon did brake
And she ne’er see’d Andrew Lammie.
Now people hear, both far and near,
All pity Tifty’s Annie,
Who died for love of one poor lad
For bonnie Andrew Lammie.
Ray Fisher sings Mill o’ Tifty’s Annie
At Mill o’ Tifty lived a man,
In the neighbourhood of Fyvie;
And he had a lovely daughter fair,
Was called bonny Annie.
Lord Fyvie had a trumpeter
Whose name was Andrew Lammie,
And he had the airt tae gain the hairt
O’ Mill o’ Tifty’s Annie.
Lord Fyvie he rade by the door
Whaur lived Tifty’s Annie;
And his trumpeter rode him before,
Even this same Andrew Lammie.
Her mither called her to the door,
Saying, “Come here tae me, my Annie.
Did e’er ye see a bonnier lad
Than the trumpeter o’ Fyvie?”
Naething she said, but sighing sore,
Alas for bonny Annie.
She durst not own her hairt was won
By the trumpeter o’ Fyvie.
For at nicht when a’ lay in their beds,
A’ sleepit soon but Annie;
Love so oppressed her tender breast,
Thinkin’ on Andrew Lammie.
Oh love comes in at my bedside,
And love lies doon beside me;
Love so possessed my tender breast
And love will waste my body.
For the first time me and my love met,
’Twas in the woods o’ Fyvie.
And wi’ kisses sweet he did me greet,
And called me his bonny Annie.
But the last time me and my love met
Says he, “My bonny Annie,
It’s I maun gang to Edinburgh town,
But I’ll soon win back tae Fyvie”
But word is soon has gotten roon’
That the trumpeter o’ Fyvie
Has had the airt tae gain the hairt
O’ Mill o’ Tifty’s Annie.
So Tifty’s wrote a letter braid,
And he’s sent it up to Fyvie,
Tae say his daughter was bewitched
By his servant Andrew Lammie.
So Fyvie rade straicht tae the Mill,
Saying, “What ails ye, Bonny Annie?”
“Oh it’s a’ for love that I maun dee,
It’s a’ for Andrew Lammie.”
“O Tifty, Tifty gie consent
And let your dochter marry.”
“It will be tae ane o’ a higher degree
Than the trumpeter o’ Fyvie.”
“Had she been born o’ richer kin
As she is rich in beauty,
I would hae ta’en the lass mysel’
And made her my ain true lady”
“O Fyvie’s lands are far and wide
An’ they are wondrous bonny,
But I wadna leave my ain true love,
No’ for a’ your lands o’ Fyvie.”
At this, her faither struck her sore,
As likewise did her mother.
Her sisters all they did her scorn,
But wae be tae her brither!
For her brither struck her wondrous sore
Wi’ cruel strokes and monie,
He broke her back ’gainst the high ha’ door,
Just for loving Andrew Lammie.
“O faither, mither, sisters a’,
Why so cruel tae your Annie?
My heart was broken first by love,
Noo my brither’s broke my body.
“Oh mither, mither, mak my bed
And turn my face tae Fyvie,
That I may lie and thus may die
For the trumpeter o’ Fyvie”
Jean Redpath sings Mill O’ Tifty’s Annie
At Mill O’ Tifty there lived a man
In the neighbourhood of Fyvie
He had a bonnie dochter dear
Whose name was Bonnie Annie
Lord Fyvie had a trumpeter
By the name o’ Andrew Lammie
He had the art tae win the heart
O’ Mill o’ Tifty’s Annie
Lord Fyvie he rade by the mill
Whaur lived Tifty’s Annie
And his trumpeter rade him before
Even this same Andrew Lammie
Her mother cried her tae the door
Saying, “Come here tae me, my Annie
Did e’er ye see a bonnier man
Than the trumpeter o’ Fyvie?”
Nothing she said, but sighing sore
Alas for Bonnie Annie
Love so oppressed her tender breast
Thinking on Andrew Lammie
“Love comes in at my bedside
And love lies doon aside me
Love so oppresses my tender breast
And love will waste my body
“The first time me and my love met
“Twas in the woods o’ Fyvie
He ca’d me ’Mistress’, I said ’No
I was Tifty’s Bonnie Annie’
“It’s up and doon in Tifty’s den
Where the burn runs clear and bonnie
I’ve often gane tae meet my love
My bonnie Andrew Lammie”
Her faither cam’ tae hear o’ this
And a letter wrote tae Fyvie
Tae say his dochter was bewitched
By his servant Andrew Lammie
Lord Fyvie he rade by the mill
“What ails ye, Bonnie Annie?”
“It’s a’ for love that I maun die
For bonnie Andrew Lammie”
“Oh Tifty, Tifty gie consent
And let your dochter marry
It’ll be tae ane o’ higher degree
Than the trumpeter o’ Fyvie
“Had she been born o’ richer kin
As she is rich in beauty
I was hae ta’en the lass mysel’
And made her my ain lady”
“Oh, Fyvie’s lands are far and wide
An’ they are wondrous bonnie
But I wadnae gie my ain true love
No’ for a’ your lands o’ Fyvie”
At this her faither struck her sore
And likewise did her mother
Her sisters a’ they did her scorn
But waes me for her brother
Her brother struck her wondrous sore
Wi’ cruel strokes and many
He broke her back on the high ha’ door
A’ the likin’ Andrew Lammie
“Oh faither, mother, sisters a’
Why sae cruel tae your Annie?
My heart was broken first by love
Noo my brother’s broke my body
“Oh mother, mother mak’ my bed
An’ lay my face tae Fyvie
Thus will I lie and will I die
For my ain dear Andrew Lammie”
Gordeanna McCulloch sings Mill o Tito’s Annie
At Mill O’ Tifty lived a man,
In the neighbourhood of Fyvie;
He had a bonny dochter fair,
And they ca’d her bonny Annie.
Her bloom was like the springing flo’er
That greets the rosy morning,
Her innocence and graceful mien,
Her beauteous face adorning.
Her hair was fair and her eyes were blue
And her cheeks were like the roses,
Her countenance was fair to view,
And they ca’d her bonny Annie.
Lord Fyvie had a trumpeter
And his name was Andrew Lammie,
And he had the art tae win the heart
O’ Mill o’ Tifty’s Annie.
Her mother cried her tae the door,
Says, “Come here tae me, my Annie.
Did e’er ye see a prettier man
Than the trumpeter o’ Fyvie?”
Naething she said, but sighing sore,
’Twas alas for Bonnie Annie.
For she durst not own that her heart was won
By the trumpeter o’ Fyvie.
Her faither cam’ tae hear o’ this
And a letter wrote tae Fyvie,
Tae tell his dochter had been bewitched
By his servant Andrew Lammie.
Her faither locked the door at nicht,
Laid by the key sae canny.
And when he heard that trumpet sound
He said, “Your coo is lowing, Annie.”
“O faither dear, pray forbear,
Reproach not your Annie.
I wud raither hear that cooing low
Than all your kye in Fyvie.
“And if ye strike me, I will cry
And gentlemen will hear me,
Lord Fyvie, he’ll come riding by,
And he’ll come in and see me.”
But her faither struck her wondrous sore
And also did her mither,
Her sisters also took their score,
But wae be tae her brother!
For her brother struck her wondrous sore
Wi’ cruel strokes and mony,
And he broke her back on the temple stane,
Aye, the temple stane o’ Fyvie.
At that same time the Lord comes in
He sais, “What ails thee, Annie?”
“It’s a’ for love that I must die,
For loving Andrew Lammie.”
“Oh mother dear, mak’ me my bed
An’ lay my face tae Fyvie;
It’s there I’ll lie till I will die
For loving Andrew Lammie.”
Her mother then she made her bed
And turned her face to Fyvie;
Her tender heart then soon did break
And she ne’er see’d Andrew Lammie.
Now people here both far and near,
Oh pity Tifty’s Annie,
Wha’d died for love of one pair lad
For bonny Andrew Lammie.
Martin Simpson sings Andrew Lammie
At Mill o’ Tifty there lived a man
In the neighbourhood of Fyvie
And he had a fine lovely daughter dear
Whose name was Bonnie Annie
Her bloom was like the springing flower
That hails the rosy morning
With innocence and grace likewise
Her lovely face adorning
Now Fyvie had a trumpeter
Whose name was Andrew Lammie
And he had the art for to gain the heart
Of Mill o’ Tifty’s Annie
Proper he was, both young and gay
His like was not in Fyvie
Nor was one there that could compare
With this same Andrew Lammie
Lord Fyvie he rode by the door
Where lived this Tifty’s Annie
And his trumpeter rode him before
Even this same Andrew Lammie
Her mother called her to the door
Saying, “Come here to me, my Annie
Did you ever see a prettier man
Than the trumpeter o’ Fyvie?”
Nothing she said, but sighing sore
Alas for Bonnie Annie
For she dared not own that her heart was won
By the trumpeter o’ Fyvie
At night when all went to their bed
All slept full soon but Annie
Love so oppressed her tender breast
Thinking on Andrew Lammie
“Oh love comes in at my bedside
And love lies down beside me
Love has possessed my tender breast
And love will waste my body
“The first time me and my love met
Twas in the woods o’ Fyvie
And his lovely form and his speech so soft
Soon won the heart of Annie”
He called me “Mistress”, I said “No
I’m Tifty’s Bonnie Annie”
And with apples sweet he did me treat
And kisses soft and many
But now alas her father heard
That the trumpeter o’ Fyvie
Had had the urge to gain the heart
O’ Mill o’ Tifty’s Annie
And her father soon a letter wrote
And he sent it on to Fyvie
To say his daughter was bewitched
By the servant Andrew Lammie
Then up the stairs his trumpeter
He called full soon and shortly
“Pray tell me now what is this you’ve done
To Mill o’ Tifty’s Annie?”
In wicked art I had no part
Nor therein am I canny
It was love alone the heart has won
Of Tifty’s Bonnie Annie
Woe be to Mill o’ Tifty’s bride
For it has ruined many
They’ll not have it said that she should wed
To the trumpeter o’ Fyvie
“Oh Tifty, Tifty give consent
And let your daughter marry
It would be to one of a higher degree
Than the servant Andrew Lammie
“Had she been born as rich in kin
As she is rich in beauty
I would have taken the lass myself
And made her queen of Fyvie”
“Oh, Fyvie’s lands are far and wide
And they are wondrous bonny
But I would not trade my own dear love
For all your lands of Fyvie”
At this her father did her scorn
And likewise did her mother
And her sisters too did her disown
But woe be to her brother
For her brother struck her wondrous sore
With cruel blows and many
And he broke her back on the temple stone
All for liking Andrew Lammie
“Oh mother, father, sisters dear
Why so cruel to your Annie?
My heart was broken first by love
Now my brother’s broke my body
“Oh mother, mother oh make my bed
And turn my face to Fyvie
And it’s there I’ll lie and there I’ll die
For the servant Andrew Lammie”
At Mill o’ Tifty there lived a man
In the neighbourhood of Fyvie
And he had a fine lovely daughter dear
Whose name was Bonnie Annie
The Spiers Family sing Tifty’s Annie
At Mill o Tifty lived a man
In the neighbourhood o Fyvie,
He hid a lovely dauchter fair
And they ca’ed her bonny Annie.
Lord Fyvie he rade by the door
Faar dwelt sweet Tifty’s Annie.
His trumpeter rode him afore,
And his name Andrew Lammie.
Her mither ca’ed her tae the door,
“Come here tae me, my Annie,
Did ye iver see a bonnier man
Than the trumpeter o Fyvie?”
That nicht fan they gaed tae their beds
They aa slept soond but Annie,
For love sair oppresst her tender breast
Wi her thouchts o Andrew Lammie.
The first time that this couple met
It was in the wids o Fyvie.
And his handsome face and flatterin tongue
Seen won the hairt o Annie.
Then It’s up and doon in Tifty’s den
Faar the burn rins clear and bonny,
She his often gane tae meet her love,
Her handsome Andrew Lammie.
But faan her faither got tae ken
That the trumpeter o Fyvie
Had used his airt tae win the hairt
Oh his dauchter bonny Annie.
A letter he did quickly write
And sent it tae Lord Fyvie,
It said that Annie wis bewitched
By his servant, Andrew Lammie.
Faan Fyvie hid the letter read
He ca’ed for Andrew Lammie.
“ Pray tell me fit is this ye’ve daen
Tae Tifty’s bonny Annie.”
O waes be tae auld Tifty’s pride
For it his ruined muny,
He’ll nae hae’t said that she wid wed
Wi a trumpeter fae Fyvie.
In wicked airt I’ve played nae pairt
Nor thoucht tae injure ony.
It’s honest love that won the hairt
Of Tifty’s bonnie Annie.
But tae Edinburgh he wis sent
Tae brak his tie wi Annie,
For they thoucht that she wid seen forget
Her love for Andrew Lammie.
The next time that Lord Fyvie passed
He caught a sicht o Annie,
An said, “If ye came o higher kin
I wid maak ye my ain lady.”
Say’s she, “Yer lands are far and wide
And they are wonderous bonny,
But I wildnae leave my ain true-love
For aa the lands o Fyvie.”
Then her faither struck her wonderous sair,
And also did her mither.
Her sisters baith they did her scorn
But waes be tae her brither.
For he his struck her wonderous sair,
Wi cruel strokes and muny,
And he’s broke her back across a stane
Jist for lovin Andrew Lammie.
“O mither will ye maak my bed
And lay my face tae Fyvie,
For it’s there I’ll lie until I die
For the love o Andrew Lammie.”
Faan Lord Fyvie heard he cried aloud,
“Alas for Tifty’s Annie,
The fairest flower’s cut doon by love
That iver grew in Fyvie.”
Links
- Mill o’ Tifty’s Annie lyrics at the Digital Tradition
- Andrew Lammie lyrics and comments at Henry’s Songbook
Acknowledgements
Thanks to Garry Gillard for transcribing Martin Simpson’s lyrics and collecting information.