Lady Margaret- Brennan (NL) 1929 Karpeles H
[My title. Single stanza with music from Folk Songs from Newfoundland; Karpeles; 1934. Additional text from Karpeles MS by Bronson.
R. Matteson 2015]
[Lady Margaret] - Sung by Mrs. Patrick and Mrs Mathew Brennan at Stock Cove, Bonavista Bay, Sept. 9, 1929.
1) One night one night Lady Margaret was sitting by her window,
When a rap come at her door,
She hurried up to answer the knock,
Surely it was her love.
2) Is it my aged father? she cried,
Or is it my brother John?
Or is it my true love, Willie,
Come from Scotland lately come.
3) It's not your old aged father, he replied,
Nor it's your brother John,
It's your true love, Willie,
Come from Scotland lately come.
4) O what did you bring me, a case of gold?
Or did you bring to me any rings?
. . . .
Or anything a true love ought to bring?
5) I brought you no case of gold,
Nor I brought you no ring;
I bought you a white holland sheet
What I was buried in.
6) She took his white holland sheet,
Tied it around her waist,
And across the fields on a dark stormy night
In a dead man's company.
7) They walked and talked where the grass were mossy green,
Saying: Here's my bed, Lady Margaret,
Where I dwells in.
8) Is there any room at your head? she said,
Or any at Your feet,
Or any by your right hand side
Where I can lie and sleep?
9) My father is at my right hand, he said,
My mother is at my feet,
And three more tormentors by my right hand side
Tormenting me in my sleep.
10) One is for my drunkenness,
And one is for my pride;
The other's deluding a fair pretty maid
Stayed out late by night.
11) Good-night, good-night, says Lady Margaret,
Good-night, good-night, says she,
If ever the living shall pray for the dead,
I'll surely pray for thee.