MAID AND THE PALMER

Oh, the maid went down to the well for to wash,
And the dew fell down from her snow-white flesh,
The dew fell down from her snow-white flesh,
As the sun shone down so early

And as she washed, as she wrung,
She hung them out on the hazel wand,
She hung them out on the hazel wand,
And by there came a palmer man

Oh, God speed you, Old Man, she cries,
God speed you, you pretty fair maid, (x 2)
As the sun shines down so early

Have you got a cup, have you got a can?
Can you give a drink to a palmer-man? (x 2)
As the...

Oh, I've no cup and I've no can,
And I cannot give a drink to a palmer-man, (etc.)

You lie, you lie, you are forsworn,
For if your truelove came from Rome,
Then a cup, a can you'd find for him,
As the sun shines down so early

Now, she swore by God and the good St. John.
Truelover she had never a one, (etc.)

You lie, you lie, you are forsworn,
For nine children you have born, (etc.)

Oh, there's three of them lying under your bed-head,
Three of them under the hearth are laid, (etc.)

Three more laying on yonder green,
Count, fair maid, for that makes nine, (etc.)

Palmer, oh, Palmer, do tell me,
Penance that you will give to me, (etc.)

Penance I will give thee none,
But seven years as a stepping stone, (etc.)

Seven more as a clapper to ring in the bell,
Seven to run from the apes of hell, (etc.)

Welcome, welcome stepping stone,
Welcome clapper in the bell to ring, (etc.)

Welcome stone, welcome bell,
God, keep me from the apes of hell, (etc.)

Child #21 (from Percy)
Roud-2335
as sung by Steeleye Span....
filename[ MAIDPALM
AB
mudcat.org

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