The seldom-heard words of the ballad, the Lowland Scots dialect, are also said to be the genre of ancient balladry:

I've heard for lilting, at the ewe-miling,
Lasses a' lilting, befor the dawn of day;
But now they are moaning on ilka green loaning;
The flowers o' the forest are a' wede awae

At buchts, in the morning, nae blithe lads are scorning;
Lasses are lonely, and dowie, and wae;
Nae daffing, nae gabbing, but sihing and sobbing;
Ilk ane lifts her leglen and hies her awae

We'll hear nae mair lilting at the ewe-milking'
Women and bairns are heartless adn wae;
Sighing and moaning on ilka green loaning --
The flowers o' the forest are a' wede awae