On a bright day in August,
They met by a stream
A young woman, and a man of means
They sat by the rockbed and fell deep in love
He cradled her hand as they spoke
Every night for a fortnight they met by the stream
And on the eve of the autumn he bed her
As he climbed on his horse, he said: no remorse;
If you are with child I will wed thee
Came at the stream, I tore him right in
He floated awhile, went under
Then came to a road of gravel and boulders
Grated his back and shoulders
Bloodied his knees unable to see
Crags, posts, scree, fences, lumber
If he could get up, untie the knot
I'd let him and I'd forget him
When came the winter she'd still seen no blood
And she understood that she was pregnant
She sent him a letter, he fast arrived
But it wasn't as she had expected
He laid out a spread, of meat eggs and bread
And a brew that contained the St John's wort
Not knowing the plant, she drank till the end
And thought next he'd ask for her hand
Came at the stream, I tore him right in
He floated awhile, went under
Then came to a road of gravel and boulders
Grated his back and shoulders
Bloodied his knees unable to see
Crags, posts, scree, fences, lumber
If he could get up, untie the knot
I'd let him and I'd forget him
A terrible pain it took her insides
As she lay on the floor she was witness
How he walked down the stream, leaving her and the horse
To fend for herself in her sickness
A fire inside her; she stained the horse red
As she mounted to run down the coward
She spurred on the beast and tore right away
To chase him and catch him; the bastard
Came at the stream, I tore him right in
He floated awhile, went under
Then came to a road of gravel and boulders
Grated his back and shoulders
Bloodied his knees unable to see
Crags, posts, scree, fences, lumber
If he could get up, untie the knot
I'd let him and I'd forget him
There was a Lord and he gave me a horse
But relinquished myself and his offspring
I sprung on the beast and tore right away
To chase him and catch him; the bastard
I tied him behind and I kicked the mare's sides
Away we were, dragging him by us
By and by he lost his stride
He fell and was rendered helpless
Came at the stream, I tore him right in
He floated awhile, went under
Then came to a road of gravel and boulders
Grated his back and shoulders
Bloodied his knees unable to see
Crags, posts, scree, fences, lumber
If he could get up, untie the knot
I'd let him and I'd forget him
