Digital Tradition Mirror

The Knicht o' Archerdale

(This score available as ABC, SongWright, PostScript, PNG, or PMW, or a MIDI file)
Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

The Knicht o' Archerdale

There cam a knicht to Archerdale
His steed was winder sma
And there he spied a lady bricht
Luikin owre her castle wa

Ye dinna seem a gentle knicht
Though on horseback ye do ride
You seem to be some sutor's son
Your butes they are sae side

Ye dinna seem a lady gay
Though ye be bound wi pride
Else I'd gane by your father's gate
But either taunt or gibe

He turned aboot his horse head
And awa he was boun to ride
But neatly wi her mouth she spak:
"Oh bide, fine squire, oh bide."

Bide, oh bide, ye hindy squire
Tell me mair o your tale
Tell me some o that wondrous lied
Ye've learned in Archerdale

"What gaes in a speal?" she said,
"What in a horn green?"
"An what gaes on a lady's head
When it is washen clean?"

"Ale gaes in a speal, " he said,
"Wine in a horn green;
And silk gaes on a lady's head
 When it is washen clean."

Aboot he turned his high horse head
And awa he was bound to ride,
When neatly with her mouth she spak:
"Oh bide, fine squire, oh bide"

"Bide, oh bide, ye hindy squire
Tell me mair o your tale
Tell me some o that wondrous lied
Ye've learned in Archerdale"

"Ye  are as like my ae brither
As ever I did see,
But he's been buried in yon kirkyard
It's mair than years is three"

"I am as like your ae brither
As ever ye did see,
But I canna get peace into my grave
A' for the pride o' thee"

"Leave pride, Janet, Leave pride, Janet
Leave pride and vanitie
If ye come the roads that I hae come
Sir warned will ye be."

"Ye come in by yonder kirk
Wi the gold preens in your sleeve,
When you're bracht hame to yon kirkyard
You'll gie them a' their leave."

"Ye come in to yonder kirk
Wi the goud plaits in your hair,
When you're bracht hame to yon kirkyard
You will them a' forbear"

He got her in her mither's bour
Puttin goud plaits in her hair,
He left her in her father's garden
Mournin her sins sae sair.

Child #47
RG
oct00

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!