Historical Folk Lyrics
"Fair Margaret and Sweet William"

Lady Margaret was sitting in her bower one day
And Knight William on her knee.
My father he will think it a deep, deep disgrace,
Young William, if I wed with thee.

You'd better mind what you're saying, Lady Margaret, he said,
You'd better mind what you're saying to me,
For before three days they are to an end,
A rakish wedding you may see.

Lady Margaret was sitting in her bower next day,
Combing her yellow hair,
And who should she spy there a-riding up close by,
Was Knight William and his lady fair.

She threw away her ivory tooth-comb,
She tossed back her yellow hair,
And out of her bower this fair lady ran
And she was never more seen there.

Young William he woke in the middle of the night,
And unto his lady did say:
Saying: I must go to see Lady Margaret, says he,
By the lief of you, lady.

For I dreamed a dream, a terrible dream,
I'm afraid it's not for our good.
I dreamed that my love was entangled with a swan
And my bride's bed flowing with blood.

I dreamed that I saw Lady Margaret, he said,
Standing at my bed-feet,
Saying: The lily and the rose they are covered up with clothes,
And I am in my cold winding-sheet.

He rode 'til he came to Lady Margaret's bower,
Where so loudly he knocked at the ring,
And none was so ready as her youngest brother there,
He came down in deep mourning.

What mourn you, what mourn you, Knight William? he said,
What mourn you so deeply unto me?
0 we are in mourning for our sister dear,
Who died for loving of thee.

0 who might eat some of her cake, he did say,
Or who might drink some of her wine,
Or who might ever live till this time tomorrow night,
He will drink some of mine.

Lady Margaret she died in the middle of the night,
And so did Knight William, the Squire.
And out of Lady Margaret there sprung a rose
And out of young William a briar.

And now our love-wars are all at an end,
And all things must be forgot,
For the branch and the briar they both grew up together
And they tied in a true lovers' knot.