[Intro]
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[Verse]
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Marianna o' the Howe was a young lassie wi' gowden hair
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Sweet and honest, true and bonnie, and lover of one John Sinclair
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Marianna met the Factor at the dawning, at the fold
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And he said, "Lie with me now, Marianna, and you will not want for gold"
[Verse]
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"Well, I thank you for your offer, but I fear it canna be
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I maun lie with John Sinclair, for he's the only one for me"
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So the Factor, sore affronted, whispered evil of her name
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Every sorrow and misfortune 'twas Marianna was to blame
[Verse]
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Soon there came a deputation, Marianna for to see
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For to slight her reputation, "The De'il has laid his hands on ye
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Ye've soured the cream and blighted the corn and danced wi' fairies on the hill
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Ye who are of devil born and ye who bow to no man's will"
[Verse]
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Seven evenings, seven mornings they spoke of Marianna ill
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There they shamed her, stripped her and maimed her, but they never tamed her will
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"Let her sweetness not deceive you, evil hides itself right well
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Once within, it will never leave you, Marianna, you'll burn in hell"
[Verse]
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"Who are these who stand against me? Who are these who slight my name?
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Let them tell their lies before god and let them hang their heads in shame"
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Then she saw a sight that grieved her, all the hope inside her died
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John Sinclair all clad in satin, standing at the Factor's side
[Verse]
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"I was child and now a woman, but I shall be no man's wife
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For my love has me forsaken, and I want no more of this life"
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They've shorn the hair from Marianna, the witch's snare o' gowden thread
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Marched her tae the Gallows ha' and whipped her sair until she bled
[Verse]
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In the crowd she spied her lover, and he had his new coat on
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Soon the flames danced all above her, and the people danced 'til the dawn
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Marianna o' the Howe was a young lassie wi' gowden hair
Dm
Sweet and honest, true and bonnie, betrayed by the Factor and John Sinclair