There were twa brethren fell on strife; Sweet fruits are sair to gather: The tane has reft his brother of life; And the wind wears owre the heather.
There were twa brethren fell to fray; Sweet fruits are sair to gather: The tane is clad in a cloak of clay; And the wind wears owre the heather.
O loud and loud was the live man's cry, ( Sweet fruits are sair to gather ) “Would God the dead and the slain were I!” And the wind wears owre the heather.
“O sair was the wrang and sair the fray,” ( Sweet fruits are sair to gather ) “But liefer had love be slain than slay.” And the wind wears owre the heather.
“O sweet is the life that sleeps at hame,” ( Sweet fruits are sair to gather ) “But I maun wake on a far sea's faem.” And the wind wears owre the heather.
“And women are fairest of a’ things fair,” ( Sweet fruits are sair to gather ) “But never shall I kiss woman mair.” And the wind wears owre the heather.
Between the birk and the aik and the thorn ( Sweet fruits are sair to gather ) He's laid his brother to lie forlorn: And the wind wears owre the heather.
Between the bent and the burn and the broom ( Sweet fruits are sair to gather ) He's laid him to sleep till dawn of doom: And the wind wears owre the heather.
He's tane him owre the waters wide, ( Sweet fruits are sair to gather ) Afar to fleet and afar to bide: And the wind wears owre the heather.
His hair was yellow, his cheek was red, ( Sweet fruits are sair to gather ) When he set his face to the wind and fled: And the wind wears owre the heather.
His banes were stark and his een were bright ( Sweet fruits are sair to gather ) When he set his face to the sea by night: And the wind wears owre the heather.
His cheek was wan and his hair was grey ( Sweet fruits are sair to gather ) When he came back hame frae the wide world's way: And the wind wears owre the heather.
His banes were weary, his een were dim, ( Sweet fruits are sair to gather ) And nae man lived and had mind of him: And the wind wears owre the heather.
“O whatten a wreck wad they seek on land” ( Sweet fruits are sair to gather ) “That they houk the turf to the seaward hand?” And the wind wears owre the heather.
“O whatten a prey wad they think to take” ( Sweet fruits are sair to gather ) “That they delve the dykes for a dead man's sake?” And the wind wears owre the heather.
A bane of the dead in his hand he's tane; Sweet fruits are sair to gather: And the red blood brak frae the dead white bane. And the wind wears owre the heather.
He's cast it forth of his auld faint hand; Sweet fruits are sair to gather: And the red blood ran on the wan wet sand. And the wind wears owre the heather.
“O whatten a slayer is this,” they said, ( Sweet fruits are sair to gather ) “That the straik of his hand should raise his dead?” And the wind wears owre the heather.
“O weel is me for the sign I take” ( Sweet fruits are sair to gather ) “That now I may die for my auld sin's sake.” And the wind wears owre the heather.
“For the dead was in wait now fifty year,” ( Sweet fruits are sair to gather ) “And now shall I die for his blood's sake here.” And the wind wears owre the heather.
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