Lady Margaret
Lady Margaret, Lady Margaret
Sat sewing her silken seam
Oh by her came a pale, pale ghost
With many’s a sigh and moan
With many’s a sigh and moan
Are you my father the king she says
Or are you my brother John
Or are you my true love, sweet William
Coming home from England newly come
Home from England newly come
I’m not your father the king he says
No no nor your brother John
But I’m your true love sweet William
Coming home from England newly come
Home from England newly come
Have you brought me any scarlet so red
Or any silks so fine
Or have you brought me any precious things
That merchants have for sale
That merchants have for sale
I have not brought you any scarlet so red
No no nor any silks so fine
But I have brought you my winding sheet
O’er many’s the rocks and hills
O’er manys the rocks and hills
Oh Margaret, oh Lady Margaret
For faith and charity
Will you give to me my faith and troth
That once my dear I gave to thee
Once my dear I gave to thee
Oh your faith and troth I’ll not give back
No no that will not I
Until I get a kiss off your ruby lips
And in my arms you come lie
In my arms you come lie
My lips they are so bitter he says
My breath it is so strong
If you get a kiss off my ruby lips
Your days will not be long
Your days will not be long
The cocks they are crowing, Margaret he says
The cocks they are crowing again
It’s time that the living should part from the dead
Margaret I must be gone
Margaret I must be gone
She followed him high she followed him low
Til they came to the churchyard green
Oh there the grave did open up
For to let young William in
For to let young William in
What three things are these, sweet William, she says
That stands here at your head
Tis three maidens Margaret he says
That I did promise once to wed
That I did promise once to wed
What three things are these, sweet William she says
That stands here at your side
Tis three babies Margaret he says
That these three maidens had
That these three maidens had
What three things are these sweet William she said
That stands here at your feet
Tis three hellhounds Margaret he says
They’re waiting for my soul to keep
They’re waiting for my soul to keep
She took up her lily white hand
And struck him in the breast
Saying have dear again your faith and troth
And I wish your soul could rest
I wish your soul could rest