Lord William- Fitzgerald (VA) 1918 Sharp F
[My title replacing the generic Child title. From English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, Sharp/Karpeles 1932. This version is similar to the dozen versions from the Shenandoah region in Virginia.
R. Matteson 2014]
[Lord William] Sung by Mr. PHILANDER H. FITZGERALD at Nash, Va., May 7, 1918
1. Light off, light off, Lady Margret, he said,
And hold my horse in your hand,
Till I go and fight your seven brothers bold,
And your father by them stand.
2 She held, she held, she better, better held,
And she never shed one tear
Until that she saw her last brother fall
And her father she loved more dear.
3 O hold, O hold, Lord William, she cried,
Your strokes are now full sore,
For many a true love I might have had,
But a father I can have no more.
4 She pulled out her silk handkerchief,
Which was both soft and fine,
And she wiped off her father's bloody wounds
Till they ran more clearer than wine.
5 Lord William he mounted his milk-white steed,
Lady Margaret mounted her bay,
And he drew his buckler down by his side,
And so they went riding away.
6 They rode, they rode, yes, they better, better[1] rode,
They rode by the light of the moon,
Until they came to their own mother's door,
Crying : Dear mother, are you at home?
7 O mother, mother, dig my grave,
Dig it both wide and deep,
And lay my true love down by my side.
That the better I may sleep.
8 Lord William died about midnight,
Lady Margaret a while before day.
And I hope that every couple that may ever come together
May[2] see more pleasure than they.
1. Sharp/Karpeles has "bitter"
2. Sharp/Karpeles has "They (May)"