Digital Tradition Mirror

False Sir John

False Sir John

False Sir John a-wooing went
     to a lady young and fair
May Colvin was this lady's name
     her father's only heir.

And it's "Give me some of your father's gold
     and some of your mother's fee
And I'll take thee to a far-off land
     and there I'll marry thee."

So she's mounted on a milk-white steed
     and he on a dapple grey
And they rode 'til they came to a lonesome spot
     a cliff by the side of the sea.

[bridge]

"Light down, light down," says False Sir John
     "Thy bridal bed to see;
It's seven women have I drown-ed here
     and the eighth one you shall be.

Have off, have of thy gown of silk
     with borders all around
For it's far too costly to lay down here
     and rot on the cold, cold ground."

"Turn around, turn around, thou False Sir John,
     and look at the leaves on the tree;
For it don't become a gentleman
      a naked maid to see."

Now False Sir John has turned around
     to look at the leaves on the tree
And she's made a dash with her arms so strong
     and pushed him into the sea.

"Lie there, lie there, thou false-hearted wretch,
     lie there instead of me.
It's seven women have you drown-ed here
     and the eighth has drown-ed thee--
It's seven women have you drown-ed here
     and the eighth has drown-ed thee.


Child #4 , tune & text from Bronson. Performed by Broadside Electric on, I
think Amplificata.
TD
oct97

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!