Sweet Maisry- Telighthul (SA) 1934 Niles A
[From: The Ballad Book of John Jacob Niles; 1961. No state or location is given by Niles, other than its in the Southern Appalachian mountains.
This is just a bit too much to believe it's authentic. Part of it may have been- with Niles you just don't know.
R. Matteson 2012, 2014]
Sweet Maisry- Telighthul 1934 Niles A
1. Oh they courted her with watches,
And they courted her with rings,
They courted her with honeyed words,
And other pretty things,
And other pretty things.
2. "Oh, it's get you gone, you nobles,
You men of high degree,
For I've given my love to an English Lord
And I hope he marries me." [repeat last line throughout]
3."If this be true," cried her brother,
"I'll give you meat and fee,
But if it's false agin my name,
High hang-ed you shall be."
4. "Oh it's hang me high and hang me well
If I've spoke false-ry
But Lady Maisry's growin' great
With an English lord's baby."
5. He went into her chamber,
Strode heavy on the floor,
"They're tellin' me, my Sister dear,
That you've become a whore."
6. "A whore, a whore, dear Brother,
Ah, that could never be!
But I have a babe by an English lord
And I hope he'll marry me."
7. In stepp-ed her old father,
Stepp-ed heavy on the floor,
"Oh, it's how do you do, Lady Maisry,
Since you've become a whore?"
8. "A whore, a whore, dear Father,
Ah, that could never be!
But I have a babe by an English lord
And I hope he marries me."
9. In stepp-ed her old mother,
Stepped sadly on the floor,
"They're tellin' me, Lady Maisry,
That you've become a whore."
10. "A whore, a whore, dear Mother,
Ah, that could never be!
But I have a babe by an English lord
And I hope he marries me."
11. In stepped her young sister,
Stepped lightly o'er the floor,
"Oh, how do you do, Lady Maisry,
Since you've become a whore?"
12. "Very bad, very bad, dear Sister,
As you can plainly see,
For Father and Mother are gatherin' wood
To burn my poor body.
13. "Go down, go down, little runner,
To where Lord William be.
Give him this token of my love,
Ere they burn my poor body."
14. Oh, he ran the prince's highway,
He ran the meadow wide,
Oh, he bowed his breast and he swam across
A many a ragin' tide.
15. "Oh, is my castle burned,
Or is my still o'errun?
Or has my lady brought to me
A daughter or A son?"
16. Lord William took the token,
He kissed it tenderly.
"Your lady's folks are a-gatherin' wood
To burn her poor body."
17. "Go saddle up my speedest horse,
Go bridle up my brown,
Go girdle up the fastest horse
That ever ran the ground."
18. He took his horn and bugle,
His sword dragged to the ground,
And as he rode the King's highway,
He made his bugle sound.
19. "Oh Mother and oh Father,
I fear you not a straw,
For yonder comes Lord William,
His merry men and all."
20. He lifted down her body,
He lifted up her head,
He kissed her lips, he kissed her chin,
Sweet Maisry was dead.