Sir William & Lady Margret- Wells (CA) 1930s
[From California Gold: Northern California Folk Music from the Thirties. Apparently Margaret was sung "Margret" as was done in nearly all the US versions. I did some editing of spelling etc.
R. Matteson 2014]
SIR WILLIAM and LADY MARGARET (MARGRET)- Mrs. Wells, performer. Archive of Folk Culture (Library of Congress) 1930s
Sir William courted Lady Margret so fair
And intended to make her his wife;
But they'd quarreled about some trifling affair,
And it cost then both their life.
Said he: I am no man for you
And you are no girl for me,
But before many days are over and gone
To my wedding you may be.
Said she, I'm no girl for you,
And you're no man for me,
Before many days are over and gone,
To my funeral you may be.
Lady Margret sat in her window high,
A-combing her yellow hair.
She saw Sir William and his bride riding by,
And to the church a-near.
Lady Margret put down her ivory comb;
With silk tied up her hair.
She threw herself out the castle window
And never spoke any more.
Sir William had a dreadful dream,
He dreamed that was not good.
He dreamed his hall was full of white swine
And his bride's chamber full of blood.
Lie still, lie still, his bride she cried,
Dreams seldom do prove true.
But it's I will arise and to Lady Margret go,
Without the leave of you.
So he arose and straightway went,
And knocking at the door;
And who was so ready as Lady Margret's brother
To open up the door.
Oh where is Lady Margret, he cried.
Seat her by the side of me.
Lady Margret is dead and under the sheet lies,
And she died for the love of thee.
Oh open up the winding sheet
And let me view the dead.
Oh let me kiss those clay cold lips
That once were cherry red.
Lady Margret died all as today;
Sir William as tomorrow.
And they were in the churchyard laid.
On account of a foolish quarrel.
They buried Lady Margret in churchyard,
And Sir William in [the] choir;
And of her grave there grew a red rose,
And out of Sir William's a briar.
They grew and grew so very high,
They grew till they reached the steeple top.
And there the Red Rose and the briar did meet.
All tied a true lovers' knot.