Little Musgrave Songtext

von Martin Simpson

As it fell out upon a day
As many in the year
Musgrave to the church did go
To see fair ladies there

The first to come down was dressed in red
And the second dressed in pall
The third to come down
Was the Lady Barnard
The fairest of them all

She's tripped up to Little Musgrave
As bright as the summer sun
And then bethought this Little Musgrave
This lady's love I've won

Good day good day you handsome youth
God make you safe and free
What would you give this day Musgrave
To spend the night with me

I dare not for my lands, lady
I dare not for my life
For the ring on your white finger says
You are Lord Barnard's wife

What if I am Lord Barnard's wife
Lord Barnard's not at home
You shall slip into his bed
And keep his lady warm

You nothing have to fear Musgrave
You nothing have to fear
I'll set the page outside my door
To watch til morning clear

And it's woe be to the little footpage
And an ill death may he die
For he's away to the green woodside
As fast as he could fly

And when he came to the broke down bridge
He bent to his breast and he swam
And when he came to the other side
He took to his heels and ran

And when he came to the green woodside
'Twas dark as dark can be
And he found Lord Barnard and his men
Asleep beneath the trees

Arise arise Master he said
Arise and speak to me
Your wife's in bed with Little Musgrave
Arise right speedily

If this be truth you tell to me
Gold shall be your fee
But if it be false you tell to me
Hanged you shall be

Go and saddle me the black he said
Go and saddle me the grey
But sound you not the horn said he
Lest our coming it should betray

But there was one in Lord Barnard's train
He loved the Little Musgrave
And he blew his horn so loud and shrill
Away Musgrave Away

Oh I think I hear the morning cock
I think I hear the jay
I think I hear Lord Barnard's horn
Away Musgrave Away

Lie down, lie down, you little Musgrave
And keep my back from the cold
It's only Lord Barnard's shepherds horn
Calling his sheep from the fold

Is not your hawk upon its perch
Your steed it's oats and hay
And you a gay lady in your arms
And yet you would away

So he's turned him right and round about
And he fell fast asleep
And when he woke Lord Barnard's men
Were standing at his feet

Then it's how do you like my bed he says
And how do you like my sheets
And how do you like my lady gay
That lies in your arms in sleep

It's very well I like your bed
And better I like your sheets
And better I like your lady gay
That lies in my arms in sleep

Get up, get up Musgrave he cries
Get up as quick as you can
In England it shall never be said
I slew a naked man

And slowly, slowly he got up
And slowly he put on
And slowly down the stairs he come
Thinking to be slain

And the very first blow Little Musgrave took
It was both deep and sore
And down he fell at Barnard's feet
And word he never spoke more

And how do you like his cheeks, lady
And how do you like his chin
And how do you like his fair body
Now there's no life within

It's well I like his cheeks she said
And well I like his chin
And better I like his fair body
Than all your kith and kin

And he's taken up his long long sword
To strike a mortal blow
And through and through the Lady's heart
The cold steel it did go

As it fell out upon a day
As many in the year
Musgrave to the church did go
To see fair ladies there