Traditional Scottish Songs
- Twa Bonnie Maidens

The words to Twa Bonnie Maidens were published by James Hogg in Jacobite Relics, Volume II (1819) as "Prince Charles and Flora Macdonald's Welcome to Skye". Hogg took the Gaelic words down from a Mrs. Betty Cameron from Lochaber. The song is also known as "Isle of Skye." It refers to the occasion when Bonnie Prince Charlie sailed with Flora MacDonald from the Outer Hebrides to Skye, dressed as Flora's maid.


Twa Bonnie Maidens

There were twa bonnie maidens, and three bonnie maidens,
Cam' owre the Minch, and cam' owre the main,
Wi' the wind for their way and the corry for their hame,
And they're dearly welcome to Skye again.
Come alang, come alang, wi' your boatie and your song,
My ain bonnie maidens, my twa bonnie maids!
For the nicht, it is dark, and the redcoat is gane,
And ye are dearly welcome to Skye again.

There is Flora, my honey, sae dear and sae bonnie,
And ane that's sae tall, and handsome withal.
Put the ane for my king and the other for my queen
And they're dearly welcome to Skye again.
Come alang, come alang, wi' your boatie and your song,
My ain bonnie maidens, my twa bonnie maids!
For the Lady Macoulain she dwelleth in her lane,
And she'll welcome you dearly to Skye again.

Her arm it is strong, and her petticoat is long,
My ain bonnie maidens, my twa bonnie maidens,
The sea moullit's nest I will watch o'er the main,
And ye are bravely welcome to Skye again.
Come alang, come alang, wi' your boatie and your song,
My ain bonnie maidens, my twa bonnie maids!
And saft sall ye rest where the heather it grows best.
And ye are dearly welcome to Skye again.

There's a wind on the tree, and a ship on the sea,
My ain bonnie maidens, my twa bonnie maids!
Your cradle I'll rock on the lea of the rock,
And ye'll aye be welcome to Skye again.
Come alang, come alang, wi' your boatie and your song,
My ain bonnie maidens, my twa bonnie maids!
Mair sound sall ye sleep as ye rock o'er the deep,
And ye'll aye be welcome to Skye again.

Meaning of unusual words:
twa=two
Minch=channel between the Outer and Inner Hebrides
corry=a hollow between mountains

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