Douglas Tragedy- William Walker (Aber) 1895 Carpenter
From: James Madison Carpenter Collection, JMC/1/8/1/A, p. 11482, title in pencil, inconsistent dialect. Stanza 13 was not remembered, I've added missing lines and corrected 2nd line in brackets.
R. Matteson 2018]
"Lord William and Lady Margaret" (The Douglas Tragedy)- sung by William Walker of South Nittans Head, Bonnykelly, New Pitsligo, learned about 1895 from George Taylor of Murryfold, Turriff.
1. "Stand up, stand up, ye seven sons so bold,
Put on your armour so bright,
Ne'er let it be said that a sister of yours,
Should be married tae a lord e're night [or knight]."
2. He [Lord William] has mounted her on a milk-white steed,
An' himsel' on the dapple grey,
Wie a bugle horn hanging doon by his side,
An' so slowly they baith rode away.
3. They rode on, an' on they rode,
It was all by the light o' the moon,
They rode on tae yon clear running stream,
It was there they lighted doon.
4. It was there they lighted doon tae tak a drink,
o, the water it ran sae clear,
It was there that he saw her seven brothers fall,
An her father fighting severe.
5. "Come doon, come doon, Lady Margaret," he cried,
"An tak ye my steed in yer hand,
And I will fight your seven brothers bold
And your father I'll mak him tae stand."
6. Lady Margaret came doon frae her high horseback,
An' she never shed a tear,
Until he saw her seven brothers fall,
An her father fighting severe.
7. "Hold off, hold off," Lord William," she cried,
"Your strokes are wondrous sair,
Sweethearts I'll get mony a ain,
But a father I'll never get mair."
8."Oh choose, oh choose, Lady Margaret," he cried
Whether to gang or tae bide."
"Oh i'll gang wie you, Lord William," she cried
Since you've left me no other guide."
9. He mounted her on his milk-white steed,
Himsel on a dapple grey,
Wi' his bugle horn hanging doon by his side,
An' so slowly they baith rode away.
10. They rode on, an' on they rode,
It was all by the light of the moon,
Until they came tae his mother ha' door,
It was there that they both lighted doon.
11. "Arise, arise, oh mother," he cried,
"Arise and let me in.
Arise, arise, oh mother," he cried,
For this night my fair lady I've won."
12. "Oh mother dear go mak my bed,
An' mak it broad an' deep,
An' lay Lady Margaret doon by my side,
And the sooner I may sleep."
13. Lord William he died e're the middle o the nicht,
Lady Margaret she died next day [on the morrow],
[Lord William he died o' his wounds,
Lady Margaret she died o' sorrow.]
14. Lord William was buried in St. Mary's kirk yard,
Lady Margaret in St. Mary's square,
And oot o' of Lady Margaret's grew a red, red rose,
And oot o' the Lord William's a sweet briar.
15. They grew and they grew tae the high steeple top,
Till they could grow no higher,
They formed themselves into a true lover's form,
All true lovers fond to admire.