Little Musgrave

Lyrics

[Verse 1] One day, one day, one fine holiday As many there be in a year We all went down to the old church house Some glorious words to hear We all went down to the old church house Some glorious words to hear [Verse 2] Little Musgrave stood by the old church door The priest was at private mass But he had more mind of the fair women Than he had for Our Lady's grace But he had more mind of the fair women Than he had for Our Lady's grace [Verse 3] The first come in was a-clad in green The next was a-clad in pall And then come in Lord Arnol's wife She's the fairest one of them all And the next come in Lord Arnol's wife She's the fairest one of them all [Verse 4] She cast her eye on Little Musgrave As bright as the summer sun And then bethought this Little Musgrave "This lady's heart have I won" And then bethought this Little Musgrave "This lady's heart have I won" [Verse 5] Quoth she, "I have loved thee, Little Musgrave Full long and many a day" Quoth he, "I have loved you, fair lady Yet never one word durst I say" Quoth he, "I have loved you, fair lady Yet never one word durst I say" [Verse 6] "I have a bower at the Bucklesfordberry It's dainty and it's nice If you go in a-thither, my Little Musgrave You can sleep in my arms all night If you go in a-thither, my Little Musgrave You can sleep in my arms all night" [Verse 7] "I cannot go in a-thither," said Little Musgrave "I cannot for my life For I know by the rings on your little fingers You are Lord Arnol's wife For I know by the rings on your little fingers You are Lord Arnol's wife" [Verse 8] "But if I am Lord Arnol's wife Lord Arnol he is not home He is gone unto the academy Some language for to learn He is gone unto the academy Some language for to learn" [Verse 9] Quoth he, "I thank you, fair lady For this kindness you show to me And whether it be to my weal or my woe This night I will lodge with thee And whether it be to my weal or my woe This night will I lodge with thee" [Verse 10] All this was heard by a little foot page By his lady's coach as he ran Says he, "I am my lady's foot page I will be Lord Arnol's man" Says he, "I am my lady's foot page But I will be Lord Arnol's man" [Verse 11] Then he cast off his hose and shoes Set down his feet and he run And where the bridges were broken down He smote his breast and he swum And where the bridges were broken down He smote his breast and he swum [Verse 12] "Awake, awake now, Lord Arnol As thou art a man of life Little Musgrave is at the Bucklesfordberry Along with your wedded wife Little Musgrave is at the Bucklesfordberry Along with your wedded wife" [Verse 13] "If this be true, my little foot page This thing thou tellest to me Then all the land in the Bucklesfordberry I freely will give it to thee Then all the land in the Bucklesfordberry I freely will give it to thee [Verse 14] "But if it be a lie, thou little foot page This thing thou tellest to me On the highest tree in the Bucklesfordberry It's a-hanged thou shalt be On the highest tree in the Bucklesfordberry It's a-hanged thou shalt be" [Verse 15] He called up his merry men all "Come saddle to me my steed This night I am away to the Bucklesfordberry For I never had greater need This night I am away to the Bucklesfordberry For I never had greater need" [Verse 16] Some men they whistled and some they sung And some of them did say "Whenever Lord Arnol's horn doth blow Away, Musgrave, away Whenever Lord Arnol's horn doth blow Away, Musgrave, away" [Verse 17] "I think I hear the noisy cock I think I hear the jay I think I hear Lord Arnol's horn Away, Musgrave, away I think I hear Lord Arnol's horn Away, Musgrave, away" [Verse 18] "Lie still, lie still, my Little Musgrave Lie still with me till morn 'Tis but my father's shepherd boy A-calling his sheep with his horn It is my father's shepherd boy A-calling his sheep with his horn" [Verse 19] He hugged her up all in his arms And soon they fell asleep And when they awoke at early dawn Lord Arnol stood at the bed feet And when they awoke at early dawn Lord Arnol stood at the bed feet [Verse 20] "Oh, how do you like my coverlet? Oh, how do you like my sheet? Oh, how do you like my fair lady Who lies in your arms so sweet? Oh, how do you like my fair lady Who lies in your arms so sweet?" [Verse 21] "Oh, I like your handsome coverlet Likewise your silken sheet But best of all your fair lady Who lies in my arms so sweet But best of all your fair lady Who lies in my arms so sweet" [Verse 22] "Arise, arise now, Little Musgrave And dress soon as you can It shall not be said in my country I killed a naked man It shall not be said in my country I killed a naked man" [Verse 23] "I cannot arise," said Little Musgrave "I cannot for my life For you have two broadswords by your side And I have got nary a knife For you've got two broadswords by your side And I've got nary a knife" [Verse 24] "I have two swords down by my side They both ring sweet and clear You take the best, I'll keep the worst Let's end this matter here You take the best, I'll keep the worst Let's end this matter here" [Verse 25] The first stroke that Little Musgrave struck He wounded Lord Arnol full sore The first stroke that Lord Arnol struck Musgrave lay dead in his gore The first stroke that Lord Arnol struck Musgrave lay dead in his gore [Verse 26] Then up and spoke this fair lady In bed where as she lay "Although you are dead, my Little Musgrave Yet for your sake will I pray Although you are dead, my Little Musgrave Yet for your sake will I pray" [Verse 27] Lord Arnol stepped up to the bedside Whereon these lovers had lain He took his sword in his right hand And split her head in twain He took his sword in his right hand And split her head in twain