I've been looking for this for 3 days in a row. In my search I've come across a couple of mudcat threads actually! But... they weren't the chords I need. AT least I think they weren't... I honestly don't know. I toyed with them. I also asked a bardic circle I'm a member of thinking "hey this song is traditional, someone there will know!" and got told to Google it. So my darling mudcat peeps, please help me out. I have Googled it. A lot. I have read the mudcat threads, snoringly. I just wanna learn to play a song dangit.

As the Gowans Grow Gay, also known at Lady Isobel and the Elf Knight.
The versions posted here in mudcat are not the versions I want to learn. I am putting the lyrics at the end of this message.

I have found two recordings of this version, one by someone named Theriot. (You can hear it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OipbPM_NK7w) It's lovely sounding, but I'm not interested in imitating this person (I'm guessing the bards thought I was even though I said I wasn't). I just want chords I can learn with.

I don't have a guitar. I have an autoharp, 15 bars. But as old as the song is, my mental logic says I should be fine as old old songs tend to stay in my range. Usually in the key of G or C. At least I think that's the key. Truth is I get confused when you throw music theory at me. Also, for the record, I also can only do a basic strum. I'm just learning.

Please help meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee (sobs, beats forehead on wall)

The lyrics:

1           Fair lady Isabel sits in her bower sewing,
      Aye as the gowans grow gay
There she heard an elf-knight blawing his horn.
      The first morning in May
2           'If I had yon horn that I hear blawing,
      Aye as the gowans grow gay
And yon elf-knight to sleep in my bosom.'
      The first morning in May
3           This maiden had scarcely these words spoken,
      Aye as the gowans grow gay
Till in at her window the elf-knight has luppen.
      The first morning in May
4           'It's a very strange matter, fair maiden,' said he,
      Aye as the gowans grow gay
'I canna blaw my horn but ye call on me.
      The first morning in May
5           'But will ye go to yon greenwood side?
      Aye as the gowans grow gay
If ye canna gang, I will cause you to ride.'
      The first morning in May
6           He leapt on a horse, and she on another,
      Aye as the gowans grow gay
And they rode on to the greenwood together.
      The first morning in May
7           'Light down, light down, lady Isabel,' said he,
      Aye as the gowans grow gay
We are come to the place where ye are to die.
      The first morning in May
8           'Hae mercy, hae mercy, kind sir, on me,
      Aye as the gowans grow gay
Till ance my dear father and mother I see.'
      The first morning in May
9           'Seven king's-daughters here hae I slain,
      Aye as the gowans grow gay
And ye shall be the eight o them.'
      The first morning in May
10           'O sit down a while, lay your head on my knee,
      Aye as the gowans grow gay
That we may hae some rest before that I die.'
      The first morning in May
11           She stroakd him sae fast, the nearer he did creep,
      Aye as the gowans grow gay
Wi a sma charm she lulld him fast asleep.
      The first morning in May
12           Wi his ain sword-belt sae fast as she ban him,
      Aye as the gowans grow gay
Wi his ain dag-durk sae sair as she dang him.
      The first morning in May
13           'If seven king's-daughters here ye hae slain,
      Aye as the gowans grow gay
Lye ye here, a husband to them a'.'
      The first morning in May