Lady Margret- Martin (Kansas) c.1970 Max Hunter
[From the Max Hunter Folk Song Collection, online. Florence Martin, an African-American woman from Pittsburg, Kansas was a member of the Carver Social League in the 1960s.
I've corrected Max Hunter's transcription.
R. Matteson 2012, 2014]
Lady Margret- As sung by Florence Martin, Pittsburg, Kansas c. 1970;
Listen: http://maxhunter.missouristate.edu/songinformation.aspx?ID=1392
VERSE 1
Sweet William he rode one morning in June
Dressed himself in blue
Pray tell to me the long, long, love
What's between Lady Margret and me
VERSE 2
I know not a thing but Lady Margret's love
I'm sure she don't love me
But tomorrow morning at eight o'clock,
Lady Margret, my bride shall see.
VERSE 3
Lady Margret was standing in her own hall door
Combing her silken hair.
When she spied sweet William an' his bride
As to the church grew nigh.
VERSE 4
She threw away her ivory comb
Back her silken hair
Lady Margret went into her room
Never more to return
VERSE 5
The day being gone an' the night coming on
When all men were asleep
Sweet William, he dreamed he saw Lady Margret
Standing at his bed feet.
VERSE 6
Saying, "How do like your bed, kind sir
An' how do you like your sheet?
An' how do you like your new wedded wife
That is lying in your arms asleep?"
VERSE 7
Very well, very well, do I like my bed
Very well do I like my sheet
Much better do I like that fair pretty girl
That is standing in my bed feet.
VERSE 8
Night being gone an' the day coming on
When all men were awake
Sweet William arose and he said, there was trouble in his head
For the dream that he dreamed last night.
VERSE 9
He dreamed his room was full of will swine
An' his love was swimming in blood.
VERSE 10
Then he called up his merry mates, all
Called them one, two, three
An' then he asked leave of his wife
Lady Margret to go an' see.
VERSE 11
He rode till he came to Lady Margret's hall
He rapped so loud at the ring
There was none so ready as Lady Margret's brothers
To arise an' let him in
VERSE 12
Is Lady Margret out to church today
Or is she in that hall?
Or is she in the dining room
Among those merry ladies all?
VERSE 13
Lady Margret is neither at church today
Neither in that hall
Lady Margret is in her cold coffin
Laid out against the wall.
VERSE 14
Fold down, fold down those linen sheets
Made of linen so fine
Let me once kiss those clay cold lips
That so often have kissed mine.
VERSE 15
Then he kissed her on the chin
Then on the cheek
Then he kissed the clay cold lips
That so often had kissed him
VERSE 16
Fold up, fold up those linen sheets
Made of linen so fine
Today you weep over Lady Margret's coffin
Tomorrow you'll weep over mine.