MUSGRAVE as sung by Planxty

It came upon a holy day as many's in the year
Musgrave to the church did go to see fine ladies there
And some were dressed in velvet red and some in velvet pale
And then in came Lord Bernard's wife, the fairest among them all

She cast her eye on the little Musgrave as bright as the summer sun
Said Musgrave unto himself, this lady's heart I've won

I have loved you fair lady, full on and many's the day
And I have loved you little Musgrave, and never a word did say

I've a bower in Bucklesfordbury, it's my heart's delight
I'll take you there, my little Musgrave, if you lie in me arms tonight

But standing by was the little footpage, from the lady's coach he ran
Though I am a lady's page, I am Lord Bernard's Man

And me Lord Bernard will hear of this, oh weather he sink or swim
Everywhere the bridge was broke, he'd enter the water and swim

Me Lord Bernard, me Lord Bernard, you are a man of life
But Musgrave, he's in Bucklesfordbury, a-sleepin' with your wedded wife

If this be true, me little footpage, this thing that you tell me
All the gold in Bucklesfordbury, I gladly will give to thee
But if this be a lie, me little footpage, this thing that you tell me
From the highest tree in Bucklesfordbury, hanged you will be!

Go saddle me the black! he says, go saddle me the gray!
And sound you not your horns he says, lest our coming you betray
But there was a man in Lord Bernard's train who loved the little Musgrave
He blew his horn both loud and shrill, away Musgrave, away!

(Instrumental--Irish pipes, vaguely horn-like)

I think I hear the hawk, he says, I think I hear the jay
I think I hear Lord Bernard's men, I wish I was away
Lie still, lie still, me little Musgrave, hug me from the cold
It's nothing, but a shepherd lad, a-bringin' his flock to fold

Is not your hawk upon his perch? your steed his oats and hay?
And you, a lady in your arms and yet you would away
He's turned her around and he's kissed her twice and then he's fast asleep
When he awoke Lord Bernard's men were standin' at his feet

How do like me bed he says, and how do you like me sheets?
How do you like me fair lady, that lies in your arms asleep?

It's well I like your bed he says and great it gives me pain
I'd gladly give a hundred pounds to be on yonder plain

Rise up, rise up, me little Musgrave, rise up and then put on
It'll not be said in this country, I slayed a naked man
So slowly, slowly, he got up, slowly he put on
Slowly down the stairs, thinkin' to be slain

There are two swords down by my side and dear they cost me purse!
You make take the best of them and I will take the worst!
And the first stroke, little Musgrave struck it hurt Lord Bernard sore
And the next stroke, Lord Bernard struck, little Musgrave ne'er struck more

(Short instrumental -- flute or ?)

Then up and spoke Lord Bernard's wife from the bed whereon she lay
Though you're dead, my little Musgrave, still for you I'll pray

How do you like his cheeks, he cried, and how do you like his chin?
How do you like his dead body, now there's no life within?

It's more I like his cheeks she cried, and more I want his chin
More I love his dead body than all your kith and kin!

He's takin' out his long, long sword to strike the mortal blow
Through and through the lady's heart, the cold steel it did go

A grave! a grave! Lord Bernard cried, to put these lovers in
With me lady in the upper hand, she came from better kin
For I've just killed the finest knight that ever rode a steed
And I've just killed the finest lady that ever did a woman's deed

(Some sort of instrumental)

It came upon a holy day as many's in the year
Musgrave to the church did go, to see fine ladies there.

(Then Planxty tops themselves with an INCREDIBLE little three-minute flute? in a sad/happy mode similar to...

Faure's Pavanne pour un enfant defa...??)