Lyr Add: Willie's Lady - folk processed

Subject: Lyr Add: Willie's Lady - folk processed
From: leeneia
Date: 21 Feb 22 - 11:19 AM

I'm planning to sing Child Ballad #6, "Willie's Lady" at the sing-a-round today. I've shortened it and done this and that, and I will try to copy it into the Chat. My Zoom has been squirrely lately, so I'm putting it here just in case.
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Lord Willie sailed o'er the raging foam.
He wooed a wife and he brought her home
He's brought her home all against his mother's will.
His mother wrought a wicked spell

And a wicked spell she's laid on her.
She'd be with child for many a year.
But that child she would never bear.
Now in her bower she lies in pain.
King Willie by her bedside stands
As down his cheeks bitter tears do run.
And sighing, says this weary man
"I wish my life was at an end".

Good Willie, back to his mother did run,
And he's gone there as a begging son
Says "My true love has this fine, noble steed
The likes of which you have never seen
And at every part of this horse's mane
hang fifty silver bells and ten.
This goodly gift is waiting there
if you your anger shall forswear.
My true love has this fine, golden kirtle
Set with jewels all about the middle
And at every part of this kirtle's hem
hang fifty silver bells and ten.
This goodly gift is waiting there
if you your anger shall forswear."

But a witch's anger never dies;
again she curst the woeful bride.
"Of the child she'll never lighter be,
nor from my curse will she be free
But she will die and she will turn to clay
And you will wed with another maid"
And sighing, says this weary man
"I wish my life was at an end".

Then up and spoke their Billie-blind*
and he has told them of a plan.
"Oh, you must buy a ball of clay
And shape it as a newborn babe.
Then ask your mother to the christening-day.
Stand near and hear what she will say."
Then Willie made the babe of clay
and set with the priest a christ'ning day.
Oh, how she spat and how she swore.
She spied a babe where no babe had been before.
Saying "Who undid the nine witch knots
braided in this lady's locks?
And who the leather shoe untied
From the left foot of this wedded bride?
And who was it split the silken thread
the spider stretched all beneath her bed?"

Good Willie keen was standing there;
he heard the words which she did swear.
Then Willie undid the nine witch knots
and Willie her left-foot shoe untied.
And Willie split the silken thread
the spider stretched all beneath this lady's bed.
Now she has borne a baby son.
Oh great are the blessings that be them upon.
Great are the blessings that be them upon.

* blind servant named Billie
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Any readers who would like to sing or recite this themselves are welcome to it. You will have to make up a melody, of course. The melody will have to vary to fit the words, which were even more irregular in the original.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Willie's Lady - folk processed
From: GUEST,IS
Date: 21 Feb 22 - 01:33 PM

'Billie-blind' isn't a servant, but a sort of household spirit. Check out this Wikipedia entry for more information.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Willie's Lady - folk processed
From: leeneia
Date: 21 Feb 22 - 10:35 PM

Not in my version. In my version he's a handicapped person who was born on the estate, and since he cannot be a farmer, the noble family takes him in and makes a servant of him.

Being blind, he was a great one for hearing things about the castle.