Fair Annie

Comb back your hair, fair Annie, he cries

Comb it back into your crown

For you must live a maiden's life

When I bring my new bride home

But how can I look maiden-like

When maiden I am none?

For it's six bonny boys have I had by you

And the seventh coming on

Now you will bake my bread, he says

And you will keep my rooms

And you will welcome my lady gay

When I bring my new bride home

And on the door is hung a silken towel

Pinned with a silver pin

That fair Annie she might wipe her eyes

As she goes out and in

Six months gone and nine coming on

She has thought the time all on

So she's taken her spyglass all into her hand

And up the high tower she has run

And she has looked east, she has looked west

She's looked all under the sun

And what should she see but Lord Thomas' ship

He's bringing up his new bride home

And should I dress in green, she says

Or should I dress in black?

Or should I go down to the raging main

And send my soul to wrack?

You need not dress in green, says her oldest son

Nor need you dress in black

But throw you wide the great hall doors

And welcome my father back

She has served them with the best of the wine

She has served them all around

But she drank water all from the well

For to keep her spirits down

She has waited on them all the live-long day

And she's thought the time all on

So she's taken her flute all into her hand

And up to her bower she has run

And she has fluted east, she has fluted west

She's blown both loud and shrill

She says, I wish to my sons there were seven greyhounds

And I was a wolf on the hill

Come down the stairs, the new bride says

Come down the stairs to me

And you tell me the name of your father dear

And I'll tell mine to thee

Well, King Douglas it was my father's name

And Queen Chattin was my mother

And Sweet Mary she was my sister dear

As Prince Henry was my brother

Well, if King Douglas it is your father's name

And Queen Chattin is your mother

Then I'm sure that I am your sister dear

As Prince Henry is our brother

And I have seven ships all out upon the sea

They are loaded to the brim

And you shall have the six of them

And the seventh for to carry me home

You shall have the six of them

When we've had Lord Thomas burned

Comb back your hair, fair Annie, he cries

Comb it back into your crown

For you must live a maiden's life

When I bring my new bride home