OLD WIFE OF COVERDALE

There lived an old wife in Coverdale
Merrily turns the wheel
There lived an old wife in Coverdale
Children she had three
She sent them away to the Northern lands
She sent them away to learn their grammerie.

Sad news came to her at Martinmas
Merrily turns the wheel
That her children had sickened and died
And buried they were all three
“My curse on the moon and stars,” she cried
“My curse upon God who had took them away from me.”

The moon it rose high on Coverdale
Merrily turns the wheel
The old woman wept bitter tears
As she lay in her narrow bed
And their in the doorway her children stood
Their hats were of birch and their eyes were as grey as lead.

She rose to prepare a feast for them
Merrily turns the wheel
All the while tears downfell and so bitterly she did weep
“We want none of your meat or ale, mother
But let us return to our graves to take our sleep.”

The cock it crows loud in Coverdale
Merrily turns the wheel
The sun rose red as blood and the moon it set in the west
“The worm is calling us home, mother,
And all of your tears they will not let us rest

There lived an old wife in Coverdale
Merrily turns the wheel
There lived an old wife in Coverdale
Children she had three


@ghost
Child #79
filename[ USHRWEL3
SOF
Feb07
mudcat.org

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