Digital Tradition Mirror

The Mother's Malison (Clyde's Water)

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Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

The Mother's Malison (Clyde's Water)

Young Willie stands in his stable
And combing down his steed
And looking through his white fingers
His nose began to bleed.
(repeat last two lines of every verse)

Bring corn, corn to my horse
And meat unto my men
For I'm awa to Maggie's bowers
I'll win or she lie doon.

O Stay, O stay this ae nicht, Willie
O stay and dinna gang
For there is a noise in Clyde Waters
Wid fear a thousand men.

It's I've a steed in my stable
Cost me twice twenty pounds
And I'll put trust in his fore legs
Tae carry me safe along.

As I rode o'er yon high high hill
And down yon dreary glen
It's o spare me spare me Clyde waters
O spare me as I gang
Make me the wreck as I come back
But spare me as I gang.

As I rode o'er yon high high hill
And down yon dreary glen
It's I hae reached at Maggie's window
Rise up and lat me in
For my boots are full of Clyde waters
And I'm frozen tae the chin.

It's up arose her mother dear
A' for tae speak tae him
It's my stable's full of horse she says
My barn's full of hay.
And my bowers are full of gentlemen
So ye can't get in till day.

He turned his horse right round about
Wi' the saut tear in his e'e
I never thought tae come here this nicht
And be denied by thee.

As he rode o'er yon high hill
And down yon dreary glen
The rush that ran in Clyde waters
Took Willie's cane frae him.

As Willie he sat saddle o'er
To catch his cane again
The rush that ran in Clyde waters
Took Willie's hat frae him.

His brother being on the other side
Cries Willie will ye droon-
Oh had ye tae yer high horse heid
He'll learn ye how to swim.

[O why could I turn ae my high horse heid
An learn how to swim?
It's the deepest pot in a the Clyde
And here that I maun droon.]

It's up she rose her Maggie dear
All in a frightful dream
For she dreamt that Willie was here last nicht
And she widna lat him in.

Go to yer bed my daughter dear
Lie doon and tak yer rest
For it's nae the space of half an hour
Since Willie left yer gate.

[It's Maggie rose, put on her clothes
An to the Clyde went she;
The first step noo that she took in
It took her tae the knee.]

[The next step that she took in
It took her tae the chin,
In the deepest pot in a the Clyde
She found her Willie in.]

[So you have got a cruel mother
And I have got another,
But here we lie in Clyde water
Like sister and like brother.]

Child #216
From Bronson; collected from Miss N. Watson, Whitehall 1905
     Bracketed verses added from version collected from Willie
     Edward, Banffshire, for completeness. Nosebleeds in
     English/Scottish folklore presaged tragedy. RG
RG

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