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. ====== 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 ============ 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.
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