Willie's Lady

Oh Willie he's crossed over the foam,
He’s wooed a wife and he's brought her home.

He wooed her for her golden hair,
His mother thought her mighty care.

So wicked spells she's cast on her,
So from her babe she'd not be free.

But in her bower she sits in pain
Whilst Willy mourns o'er her in vain.

So to his mother he has gone,
That vilest witch of the rankest kind.

And says, “My lady has a cup
With gold and silver set about.

“This goodly gift shall be your own
If your relieve her of her bairn.”

“Oh of her babe she'll not be free
And she shall never lighter be.

“But she will die and turn to clay,
And you shall wed with another maid.”

So Willy sighed and turned away,
“I wish my life,
I wish my life were at an end.”

“Oh go you to your mother again,
That vilest witch of the rankest kind.

“And say your lady has a steed
The like of which has ne'er been seen.

“For he has golden hooves before,
And he has golden hooves behind.

“And just below that horse's mane
There hangs a bell on a golden chain.

“This goodly gift shall be your own
If your relieve her of her bairn.”

“Oh of her babe she'll not be free
And she shall never lighter be.

“But she will die and turn to clay,
And you shall wed with another maid.”

So Willy sighed and turned away,
“I wish my life,
I wish my life were at an end.”

“Oh go you to your mother again,
That vilest witch of the rankest kind.

“And say your lady has a gown
 [bad word] red all woven round.

“And every stitches made from gold
The like of which is rarely seen.

“And at every golden hem
Hangs fifty silver bells and ten.

“This goodly gift shall be your own
If your relieve her of her bairn.”

“Oh of her babe she'll not be free
And she shall never lighter be.

“But she will die and turn to clay,
And you shall wed with another maid.”

So Willy sighed and turned away,
“I wish my life,
I wish my life were at an end.”

Then up and spoke old Billy the Blind
And he has spoken just in time,
Then up and spoke old Billy the Blind
And he has spoken just in time:
“Oh go you down to the market place
And there you'll buy a loaf of wax.
“And shape a babe that is to nurse,
An in it place two eyes of glass.

“And bid you mother to his christening day
And you stand close by her right side.
“And never stray too far away
But listen well to what she says.”

“Oh who has loosed the nine witch knots
That were among this lady’s locks?

“And who has take [bad word] of care
That hung among this lady's hair?

“And who has killed the master kid
That ran beneath this lady’s bed?

“And who has loosened her left shoe
And let this lady lighter be?”

So Willie's loosed the nine witch knots
That were among this lady’s locks.

And Willie's taken [bad word] of care
That hung among this lady's hair.

And Willie's killed the master kid
That ran beneath this lady’s bed.

And Willie's loosened her left shoe
And let this lady lighter be.

They from this witch's curse be free
And now they have their son so bonny.
And many blessings, many blessings,
Many blessings on all three.