Douglas Tragedy- John Riddoch (Aber) 1931 Carpenter
[Title is written in pencil. From: James Madison Carpenter Collection, JMC/1/5/1/F, p. 08088. Inconsistent dialect, I've added missing 3rd line in stanza 13.
R. Matteson 2018]
Lord William and Lady Margaret (The Douglas Tragedy)- sung by John Riddoch of Oyne, Aberdeenshire, c. 1931
1. "Rise up, rise up, Lord Douglas," she cried,
An' put on your armour so bright,
An' take better care of your youngest daughter,
For the eldest's away last night."
2. "Rise up, rise up, ye seven sons so bold,
Put on your armour so bright,
And tak' better care of your youngest sister,
For the eldest's away last night."
3. Lord William looked over his left shoulder,
To see what he could see,
Twas then that he saw her seven brothers bold,
Come riding over the lea.
4. He mounted her on her milk-white steed,
Himsel' on a dapple grey,
Wi' his bugle horn hangin' doon by his side,
So slowly they baith rode away.
4. They rode on, an' father on,
It was all by the light o' the moon,
It they came to a clear winding stream,
It wis then they baith lichted doon fear.
5. "Light doon, light doon, Lady Margaret," he cried,
"An' tak my steed in yer hand,
Till I go an' fight wi' your seven brothers bold
An' your father I'll make for to stand."
6. She took his steed in her milk-white hand,
An she never shed one tear,
Until she saw her seven brothers fall,
An her father fighting severe.
7. "Oh hold ye, oh hold ye," Lord William," she cried,
"Hold up e'er ye be dead,
"Tis naught, tis naught, Lady Margaret," he said
But the shining of my coat so red."
8. She's ta'en out her handkerchief,
Doon in yonder lowlands so fine,
And she has wiped his bloody wounds,
They were redder than the wine.
9. He mounted her on her milk-white steed,
An himsel' on his dapple grey,
Wi' a bugle horn hangin' doon by his side,
An' so slowly they baith rode away.
10. They rode on, an' farther on,
Twas all by the light of the the moon,
Until they came to his mother's hall door,
It was there that they both lighted doon.
11. "Rise up, rise up, my mother dear,
"Rise up and let me in.
This night through stress and blood I fear,
My lady I have won."
12. "Oh mother dear, go make my bed," he cried,
Make it baith lang, soft an' deep,
An lay Lady Margaret along by my side,
That the sounder we may sleep."
13. Lord William died in the middle of the night,
Lady Margaret died on the morrow.
[Lord William died from his wounds],
Lady Margaret died of sorrow.
14. They buried then baith in St. Mary's church yard,
Right in the middle of the square,
Oot o' the lady's grave there grew a bonny rose,
While oot o' the knight's grew a briar.
15 They twa met an' they twa plot,
Growing in beauty together.