Mary Hamilton (2) Mary Hamilton's tae the kirk gane Wi' ribbons in her hair And the King thocht mair o' Mary Hamilton Than ony that was there Mary Hamilton's tae the kirk gane Wi' ribbons at her breist And the king thocht mair o' Mary Hamilton Than he listened tae the priest Mary Hamilton's tae the kirk gane Wi' ribbons in her hand And the King thocht mair o' Mary Hamilton Than the Queen and a' her land She hadnae been aboot the King's court A month but barely ane When she was beloved by a' the King's court And the King the only man She hadnae been aboot the King's court A month but barely three When fae the King's court Mary Hamilton Mary Hamilton dursna be The King is tae the abbey gane Tae pu' the abbey tree And scale the babe fae Mary's heart But the thing it wouldnae be She's rowed it in her apron And she's set it in the sea, sayin' "Gae sink ye or swim, ye bonnie babe Ye'se get nae mair o' me" But word is tae the kitchen gane And word is tae the Ha' That Mary Hamilton's brocht tae bed And the bonnie babe 's missed and awa' For scarce had she lain doon again And scarcely fa'en asleep When up there started oor guid Queen And stood at her bed's feet, sayin' "Whaur's yer babe, Mary Hamilton? For I'm sure I heard it greet" "Oh no, oh no, my noble Queen Think nae sic thing tae be Twas but a stitch intae my side And sair it troubled me" "Get up, get up, Mary Hamilton Get up and follow me For I am gaun tae Edinburgh toon A rich weddin' for tae see" Oh slowly, slowly rase she up And slowly put she on And slowly rad she oot the way Wi' mony's the weary groan "Ride hooly, hooly, gentlemen Ride hooly noo wi' me For never, I'm sure, a wearier bird Rade in your company" The Queen was clad in scarlet Her merry maids a' in green And ilka toon that they padded through Took Mary for the Queen "Why weep ye so, ye burgess wives? Why look ye so on me For I am gaun tae Edinburgh toon A rich weddin' for tae see" But little wist Mary Hamilton When she rade on the brown That she was gaun tae Edinburgh toon A' tae be put down For when she rade through the Netherbow Port She laughed loud laughters three But lang e'er she cam' by again The tears blinded her e'e When she gaed up the Tolbooth steps The corks fae her heels did flee But lang e'er she cam' doon again She was condemned to dee Yestreen the Queen had four Maries This nicht she'll hae but three There was Mary Beaton and Mary Seaton And Mary Carmichael and me It's aften hae I dressed my Queen And put gold in her hair But noo I've gotten as my reward The gallows tae be my share Child #173 recorded by Jean Redpath see also Mary Hamilton for a shorter version SOF
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!