O the broom, the bonnie bonnie broom, an' the broom o' the Cowdenknowes!
And aye sae sweet the lassie sang, I' the bucht milking the yowes
"O ah hae bin east, an' ah hae bin west, an' hae bin far ower the knowes
But the bonniest lass that ere I saw is I' the bucht milkin' o' the yowes!"
O the broom, the bonnie bonnie broom!
She set the cog upon her head and she's gane singin' hame
"O whaur hae ye bin, my ae dochter? Ye haena bin yer lane!"
"O wae be tae yer yoweherd, faither, and an ill deeth may he dee,
He biggit the bucht at the the back o' the knowes, and a tod has frichted me!"
O the broom, the bonnie bonnie broom!
It fell on a day, a het simmer day, she wis ca'in' oot her faither's kye
There cam' a troop o' gentlemen a-riding merrily by
"Weel may ye save and see, bonnie lass! Weel may ye save an' see!
For dinna ye mind that misty nicht, I was I' the bucht wi' thee?"
O the broom, the bonnie bonnie broom!
Then he's leap'd aff his berry-brown steed and he's set that fair may on
"Ca' oot yer kye, gude-faither, yoursel'! For she'll neiver ca' them oot again!
I am the laird o' the Oakland Hills, I hae thirty ploughs an' three
An' ah hae gotten the bonniest lass that's in a' the south-countrie!"
O the broom, the bonnie bonnie broom!
Some notes on these words, and a translation into standard English.