KEMP OWYNE



Her mother died when she was young

Which gave her cause to make great moan

Her father married the worst woman

That ever lived in Christendom



She served her with foot and hand

In everything that she could dee

Till once in an unlucky time

She threw her in ower Craigy's sea



Says, Lie you there, dove Isobel

And all my sorrows lie with thee

Till Kemp Owyne come ower the sea

And borrow you with kisses three

Let all the world do what they will

Oh borrowed shall you never be



Her breath grew strang, her hair grew lang

And twisted thrice around the tree

And all the people far and near

Thought that a savage beast was she



These news did come to Kemp Owyne

Where he lived, far beyond the sea

He hasted him to Craigy's sea

And on the savage beast looked he



Her breath was strang, her hair was lang

And twisted thrice about the tree

And with a swing she came about

"Come to Craigy's sea and kiss with me



"Here is a royal belt," she cried,

"That I have found in the green sea

And while your body it is on

Drawn shall your blood never be

But if you touch me, tail or fin

I vow my belt your death shall be"



He stepped in, gave her a kiss

The royal belt he brought him wi'

Her breath was strang, her hair was lang

And twisted twice about the tree

And with a swing she came about

"Come to Craigy's sea and kiss with me"



"Here is a royal ring," she said

"That I have found in the green sea

And while your finger it is on

Drawn shall your blood never be

But if you touch me, tail or fin,

I swear my ring your death will be"



He stepped in, gave her a kiss

The royal ring he brought him wi'

Her breath was strang, her hair was lang

And twisted aince about the tree

And with a swing she came about

"Come to Craigy's sea and kiss with me"



"Here is a royal brand," she cried,

"That I have found in the green sea

And while your body it is on

Drawn shall your blood never be

But if you touch me tail or fin

I swear my brand your death will be"



He stepped in, gave her a kiss

The royal brand he brought him wi'

Her breath was sweet, her hair grew short

And twisted nane about the tree

And smilingly she came about

As fair a woman as fair could be



Child #34

in Child, from Buchan, "Ballads of the North of Scotland"

sung by Margaret MacArthur

@magic @family @myth

filename[ KEMPOWYN

SF

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