CLERK SAUNDERS



Clerk Saunders and May Margaret

Were walking on yon garden green

And sad and heavy was the love I wot

That fell their twa between



"A bed, a bed," Clerk Saunders said

"A bed for you and me"

"Fie no, fie no," quoth May Margaret

"Till ainse we mairrit be"



"Ye'll tak' a napkin in your hands

And bind up baith your bonnie een

Then you may swear and save your oath

You saw me not since late yestereen



"Tak' yer ma sword intae baith your hands

And slowly, slowly lift the pin

Then you may swear and save your oath

Ye ne'er let Clerk Saunders in"



It fell aboot the midnight hour

When they asleep in bed were laid

That in there came her seven brothers

Wi' torches burning red



And up and spak' the fifth o' them

"It were a shame true love tae twine"

And up and spak' the sixth o' them

"It were a sin tae slay a sleeping man"



But up and gat the seventh o' them

And ne'er a word spak' he

But he has striped his bright brown brand

Down through Clerk Saunders's fair body



And they lay still and sleepit sound

Until the sun began tae sheen

She looked atween her and the wa'

And dull and drowsy were his een



Then in there cam' her faither dear

And said "Let a' your mournin' be

I'll carry the dead corpse tae the clay

And I'll come back and comfort thee"



The clinkin' bell gaed through the toon

Tae carry the dead corpse tae the clay

And Clerk Saunders stood at May Margaret's window

I wot an hour before the day



"Is there any room at your head, Saunders?

Or any room at your feet?

Or any room at your side Saunders?

Whaur fain, fain I would sleep?"



"No, there's nae room at my head, Margaret

And nae room at my feet

My bed it is full lowly now

Among the hungry worms I sleep



And fair Margaret and rare Margaret

And Margaret of veritie

Gin ere ye love anither man





Ne'er love him as ye did me"



Then up and crew the milk-white cock

And up and crew the grey

Her lover vanished in the air

And she went weepin' away



Child #69

@ballad @courtship @murder @family @ghost

recorded by Jean Redpath on Lowlands

filename[ CLERKSAN

SF

===DOCUMENT BOUNDARY