SIR PATRICK SPENS



The King sits in Dumferlane toon

A-drinkin' at the wine

And he has called for the best skipper

In Fife and all the land



Then out there spoke an old carle

Sat by the King's own knee

Says, "Sir Patrick Spens is the best sailor

That ever sailed the sea"



The King has written a long letter

And signed it with his own hand

And sent it to young Patrick Spens

Was walking on Leith strand



"To Norowa, to Norowa

To Norowa over the foam

The King's daughter of Norowa

Tis you must bring her home"



The first line that Sir Patrick read

A loud, loud laugh laughed he

The next line that Sir Patrick read

A tear blinded his e'e



"Oh who is this has done this deed

And told the King of me

To send me out this time of year

To sail upon the sea?"



They hadn't been in Norowa

A week but barely three

When all the lords of Norowa

Got up and spak' so free



"The outland Scots waste our King's gold

And swallow our Queen's fee"

"Oh weary for the tongue that speaks

Such a mortal lie"



"Take tent, take tent, my good men all

Make sure you are well forn

For come it wind or come it rain

Our good ship sails the morn"



Then out there spoke the weatherman

"I fear we'll all be drownded

For I saw the new moon late yestere'en

With the old moon in her arms"



They had not sailed a league, a league

A league but barely three

When the lift grew dark and the wind blew loud

And surly grew the sea



Oh loath, loath were the good Scots lords

To wear their cork-heeled shoon

But long e'er all the ploy was played

They wore their hats aboon



Half over, half over by Aberdeen

Where the sea's so wide and deep

It's there that lies young Patrick Spens

With the Scots lord at his feet



Child #58

@sailor @Scots @royalty @ballad

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