Little Musgrave - Martin Simpson

As it fell out upon a day

As many in the year

Little Musgrave to the church did go

To see fair ladies there

The first to come down was dressed in red

The second dressed in Pall

The third to come down

Was the Lady Barnard

The fairest of them all

She's tripped to the Little Musgrave

As bright as the summer sun

And then bethought this Little Musgrave

This lady's love I've won

Good day to you handsome youth

God make you safe and free

What would you give this day Musgrave

To spend the night with me

Oh I dare not for my lands lady

I dare not for my life

For the ring on your white finger says

You are Lord Barnard's wife

What if I am Lord Barnard's wife

Lord Barnard's not at home

You shall sleep into his bed

And keep his lady warm

You nothing have to fear Musgrave

You nothing have to fear

I'll set the page outside my door

To watch till morning clear

And it's woe be to the little footpage

In an ill death may he die

For he's away to the green wood side

As fast as he could fly

And when he come to the broke down bridge

He bent to his breast and he swam

And when he came to the other side

He took to his heels and run

And he run till he come to the green wood side

It was dark as dark could be

There he found Lord Barnard's men

Sleeping neath the trees

Arise arise Master he says

Arise and come with me

Your wife's in bed with the Little Musgrave

Arise right speedily

If this be the truth you tell to me

Gold shall be your fee

But if this be false you tell to me

Hanged you shall be

Go and saddle me the black he says

Go and saddle me the grey

Sound you not the horn said he

Lest our coming it should betray

But there was one in Lord Barnard's train

He loved the Little Musgrave

And he blew his horn so loud and shrill

Away Musgrave away

I think I hear the morning cock

I think I hear the jay

I think I hear Lord Barnard's horn

Away Musgrave away

Lie down lie down you Little Musgrave

Keep my back from the cold

It's only Lord Barnard's shepherd's horn

Calling his sheep from the fold

Is not your hawk upon its perch

Your steed eats oats and hay

You a gay lady in your arms

And yet you would away

So he's turned him right and round about

He fell fast asleep

When he woke Lord Barnard's men

Were standing at his feet

And it's how do you like my bed he says

How do you like my sheets

How do you like my lady gay

That lies in your arms and sleeps

It's very well I like your bed

Better I like your sheets

Better I like your lady gay

That lies in my arms and sleeps

Get up get up Musgrave he cries

Get up as quick as you can

In england it shall never be said

I slew a naked man

And slowly slowly he got up

Slowly he put on

Slowly down the stairs he come

Thinking to be slain

And the very first blow Little Musgrave struck

It hurt Lord Barnard sore

Very first blow Barnard struck

Musgrave struck no more

How do you like his cheeks lady

How do you like his chin

How do you like his fair body

Now there's no life within

It's very well I like his cheeks

It's better I like his chin

Better I like his fair body

Than all your kith and kin

And he's taken up his long long sword

To strike a mortal blow

And through and through the Lady's heart

The bloody steel did go

As it fell out upon a day

As many in the year

Little Musgrave to the church did go

To see fair ladies there