As it fell out upon a day
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As many in the year
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Musgrave to the church did go
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To see fair ladies there
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And some came down in red velvet
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And some came down in Pall
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And the last to come down was the Lady Barnard
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The fairest of them all
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She's cast a look on the Little Musgrave
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As bright as the summer sun
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And then bethought this Little Musgrave
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This lady's love I've won
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GOOD day good day you handsome youth
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God make you safe and free
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What would you give this day Musgrave
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To lie one night with me
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I dare not for my lands, lady
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I dare not for my life
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For the ring on your white finger shows
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You are Lord Barnard's wife
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Lord Barnard's to the hunting gone
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And I hope he'll never return
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And you shall slip into his bed
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And keep his lady warm
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There's nothing for to fear Musgrave
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You nothing have to fear
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I'll set a page outside the gate
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To watch til morning clear
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And woe be to the little footpage
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And an ill death may he die
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For he's away to the green wood
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As fast as he could fly
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And when he came to the wide water
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He fell on his belly and swam
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And when he came to the other side
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He took to his heels and ran
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And when he came to the green wood
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'Twas dark as dark can be
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And he found Lord Barnard and his men
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Asleep beneath the trees
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Rise up Rise up Master he said
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Rise up and speak to me
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Your wife's in bed with Little Musgrave
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Rise up right speedily
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If this be truth you tell to me
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Then gold shall be your fee
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And if it be false you tell to me
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Then hanged you shall be
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Go saddle me the black he said
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Go saddle me the grey
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And sound you not the horn said he
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Lest our coming it would betray
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Now there was a man in Lord Barnard's train
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Who loved the Little Musgrave
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And he blew his horn both loud and shrill
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Away Musgrave Away
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I think I hear the morning cock
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I think I hear the jay
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I think I hear Lord Barnard's horn
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Away Musgrave Away
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Lie still, lie still, you little Musgrave
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And keep me from the cold
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It's nothing but a shepherd boy
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Driving his flock to the fold
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Is not your hawk upon its perch
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Your steed is eating hay
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And you a gay lady in your arms
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And yet you would away
|
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So he's turned him right and round about
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And he fell fast asleep
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And when he woke Lord Barnard's men
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Were standing at his feet
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And how do you like my bed Musgrave
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And how do you like my sheets
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And how do you like my fair lady
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That lies in your arms asleep
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It's well I like your bed he said
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And well I like your sheets
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But better I like your fair lady
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That lies in my arms asleep
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Get up, get up young man he said
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Get up as swift as you can
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For it never will be said in my country
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I slew an unarmed man
|
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I have two swords in one scabbard
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Full dear they cost my purse
|
And you shall have the best of them
|
I shall have the worst
|
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So slowly, so slowly he rose up
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And slowly he put on
|
And slowly down the stairs he goes
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Thinking to be slain
|
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And the first stroke Little Musgrave took
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It was both deep and sore
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And down he fell at Barnard's feet
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And word he never spoke more
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And how do you like his cheeks, lady
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And how do you like his chin
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And how do you like his fair body
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Now there's no life within
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It's well I like his cheeks she said
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And well I like his chin
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And better I like his fair body
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Than all your kith and kin
|
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And he's taken up his long long sword
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To strike a mortal blow
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And through and through the Lady's heart
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The cold steel it did go
|
|
As it fell out upon a day
|
As many in the year
|
Musgrave to the church did go
|
To see fair ladies there
|
|
-----------------
|
The Little Musgrave
|
John Wesley Harding |