May Colvin

False Sir John a wooing came to a lady young and fair

May Colvin was this lady’s name

Her father’s only heir

Her father’s only heir

He wooed her while she spun the thread and while they made the hay

Until he gained her low consent to mount and ride away

To mount and ride away

It’s bringing me some of your father’s gold and some of your mother’s fee

I’ll take thee to some far-off land and there I’ll marry thee

And there I’ll marry thee

She’s gone unto her father’s coffer where all of his monies lay

She’s took the yellow and left the white and lightly skipped away

And lightly skipped away

She’s gone unto her father’s stables where all of his steeds did stand

She’s took the best and left the worst in all of her father’s land

In all of her father’s land

She’s mounted on a milk white steed and he on a dapple gray

And they rode til they come to a lonesome spot a cliff by the side of the sea

A cliff by the side of the sea

Light down light down said False Sir John

Your bridal bed you’ll see

It’s 7 women have I drownded here and the 8th one you shall be

And the 8th one you shall be

Have off have off your Holland smock with borders all around

For it’s too costly to lay down here and rot on the cold cold ground

And rot on the cold cold ground

Cast off cast off your silk so fine and lay them on a stone

For they’re too fine and costerly to rot in the salt sea foam

To rot in the salt sea foam

Take off take off your silken stays likewise your handsome shoes

For they’re too fine and costerly to rot in the sea with you

To rot in the sea with you

Turn around turn around thou False Sir John and gaze at the leaves on the trees

For it don’t become a gentleman a nekkid woman to see

A nekkid woman to see

It’s False Sir John has turned around to gaze at the leaves on the trees

She’s made a dash with her tender little arms and pushed him into the sea

And pushed him into the sea.

Oh help oh help May Colvin oh help or I shall drown

I’ll take thee back to the father’s house and lightly set you down

And lightly set you down

No help no help Thou False Sir John no help will you get from me

The bed’s no colder to you sir than you thought to give to me

Then you thought to give it to me

She’s mounted on a milk white steed and led the dapple grey

And rode til she come to her father’s house at the breaking of the day

At the breaking of the day

Then up and spoke the little parrot

Said May Colvin where have you been

And what have you done with False Sir John that went with you riding

That went with you riding

Hold your tongue hold your tongue you little parrot

And tell no tales on me and I’ll give you a cage of beaten gold

With spokes of ivory

With spokes of ivory