Lady Margaret

Child #77

Other titles or closely related songs: Sweet William's Ghost

Lady Margaret she lay on a fine feather bed, the midnight hour drew nigh
When the ghostly form came to her room
And to her it did appear, appear, and to her it did appear

Are you my father, the king, she said, or are you my brother John
Or are you my true love William, she said
Coming home from Scotland along, along, coming home from Scotland along

I’m not your father, the king, he cried, nor am I your brother John
But I am your sweetheart William, he said
Coming home from Scotland along, along, coming home from Scotland along

Oh Margaret, oh Lady Margaret, he said, for love or charity
Will you give me back the plighted troth
That once I gave to thee to thee, that once I gave to thee

I’ll not give you back your plighted troth or any such a thing
Until you bring me to your father’s hall
Where oft-times we had been, have been, where oft-times we have been

And he took her to his own father’s hall, and as they entered in
The gates flew open of their own free will
For to let young William in, in, for to let young William in

Oh Margaret, oh, Lady Margaret he said, for love or charity
Will you give me back the treasure troth
That once love I gave thee, gave thee, that once love I gave thee

I’ll not give you back your treasure troth or any such a thing
Until you bring me to my own father’s hall
And marry me with a ring, a ring, and marry me with a ring

He took her then to yon high churchyard, and as they entered in
The gates flew open of their own sweet will
For to let young William in, in, for to let young William in

Oh Margaret oh Lady Margaret he said, for love or charity
Will you give me back the plighted troth
That once love I gave thee, gave thee, that once love I gave thee

Then out of her pocket she drew a cross, and she laid it on his breast
Saying here is back your plighted troth
In Heaven may your soul find rest, find rest, in Heaven may your soul find rest

Oh the winds do blow and the moor cock crows and it’s nearly breaking day
And it’s time that the living should depart from the dead
So now my love I must away, away, now my love I must go away.