Historical Folk Lyrics
"Lamkin"

Said the lord to his lady
As he was going away:
Beware of proud Lamkin,
For he comes up this way.

What do I care for proud Lamkin,
Or any of his men,
When my doors are well bolted
And my windows shut in.

He was scarce gone one hour,
When proud Lamkin came by;
He knocked at the hall door
And the nurse let him in.

0 where is your master?
Is he not without?
He's gone to old England,
Cried the false nurse.

0 where is your mistress?
Is she not within?
She's up in her bed-chamber
With the windows barred in.

How am I to get at her?
Proud Lamkin did cry.
0 here is young Sir Johnson,
Pierce him and he'll cry.

He took out his bodkin,
And pierced young Sir Johnson,
And made the blood trinkle
Right down his toes.

0 mistress, dearest mistress,
How can you sleep so fast?
Can't you hear your young Sir Johnson
A-crying his last.

I can't pacify him
On the nurse-milk or pap;
I pray you come down,
Quieten him on your lap.

How can I come downstairs
On such a cold winter's night,
No spark of fire burning,
No candle alight?

You've got two white Holland sheets
As white as snow;
I pray you come down
By the light of them so.

As she was coming downstairs
Not thinking much harm,
Proud Lamkin awaited,
Took her by the arm.

I have got you, I have got you,
Proud Lamkin did cry,
For years I have waited,
But I have got you at last.

0 spare me my life, she cries,
For one, two o'clock,
And I'll give you all the money
That you will carry on your back.

If you'll give me the money
Like the sand on the shore,
I'll not keep my bright sword
From your white skin so free.

O spare me my life, she cries,
For one half an hour,
I'll give to you my nurse,
Although she's my flower.

O where is your nurse?
Go send her to me;
She can hold the silver basin
While your heart's blood runs free.

False nurse was my friend, she cries,
But now she's my foe;
She can hold the silver basin
While my heart's blood do flow.

There was blood in the nursery
And blood in the hall
And blood on the stairs
And her heart's blood was all.

Proud Lamkin was taken
To the gallows to die,
And false nurse she was burned
In a fire near by.