The versions found in the Grieg-Duncan Collection of traditional songs (c.1900) along with some of the tune variants provided the basis for my collation of 'Dainty Down-by', 'Dainty Downbie', 'Dounbie' (etc). I don't know the origins of the story or the significance of the name Downbie. I now can't find where I wrote down this version, or whether I did. I recorded it in 2004, and in 2007 it popped up on my iPod, where it must have got stored. I never uploaded it in 2004, and I don't know exactly why. Also, it only exists as an mp3 file, where most of my recordings have AIFF masters. I think it was just a 'notepad' for the song, but in retrospect, I quite like the result, so here it is.

Lyrics

Once there was a farmer who was widowed and alone
And he had an only daughter that he could call his own
And by the bright May moon she was wont to roam
In the lands of the Laird of the Downbye

And it's up and came the laird saying, lass are you alone?
And why by the moonlight through my lands do you roam?
Let me take you by the hands and I'll take you to my home
And I'll make you the lady of Downbye

Oh no kind sir you know that would never do
I'm but a farmer's daughter and I'm no match for you
But I'll lie in your arms in the cool morning dew
In the lands of the Laird of Downbye

And he's taken her by the hand, and he's taken her by the waist
And he's laid her in a green, a green and grassy place
And he did not do it slowly, nor made he much haste
Did the laird of the Dainty Downbye

And when six months they were passed and were gone
Her fair, fair colours were turned pale and wan
And the farmer said, daughter, I feel you are undone
For you've lain with the Laird of the Downbye

Then came the Laird he was knocking at the door
Saying, farmer get you daughter, let her stand upon the floor
That her fair, fair colours I may see once more
That I saw in the Dainty Downbye

And the farmer took his daughter and he led her by the hand
And out on the boards he has made her stand
And her colours were fair that yet had been wan
When she saw the Laird of the Downbye

And he's taken by the hand and he's taken her by the waist
And he's led her to his lands and her's led her to his place
And he's dressed her in silk and he's dressed her in lace
And he's made her the lady of Downby

The Laird o'the Dainty Downbye