FAIR ANNIE

    Comb back your hair, Fair Annie, he said
    Comb it back into your crown
    For you must live a maiden's life
    When I bring my new bride home.

    Oh, how can I look maidenlike
    When maiden I am none?
    For six fair sons have I had by you
    And a seventh coming on?

    Oh, you will bake my bread, he said,
    And you will keep my home
    And you will welcome my lady gay
    When I bring my bridal home.

    And on the door he hung a silken towel
    Hung by a silver pin
    That Fair Annie, she might wipe her eyes
    As she went out and in.

    Now, six months gone, and nine comin' on
    And she thought the time o'er-long
    So she's taken a spyglass all in her hand
    And up to the tower she has run.

    She has look-ed east, she has look-ed west
    She has looked all under the sun,
    And who should she see but Lord Thomas
    All a-bringin' of his bridal home.

    So she has called for her seven sons
    By one, by two, by three
    And she has said to her eldest son
    Oh, come tell me what you see.

    So he's look-ed east, he has look-ed west,
    He has looked all under the sun
    And who should he see but his father dear,
    He was bringin' of his new bride home.

    So it's, Shall I dress in green? she said,
    Or shall I dress in black?
    Or shall I go down to the ragin' main
    And send my soul to wrack?

    Oh, you need not dress in green, he said,
    Nor you need not dress in black
    But throw you wide the great hall door
    And welcome my father back.

    So it's Welcome home, Lord Thomas, she said,
    And You're welcome unto me.
    And welcome, welcome, your merry men all
    That you've brought across the sea.

    And she's serv-ed them with the best of the wine;
    Yes, she's serv-ed them all 'round
    But she's drunk water from the well
    For to keep her spirits down.

    And she's wait-ed upon them all the livelong day,
    And she thought the time o'er-long.
    And she's taken her flute all in her hand
    And up to her bower she has run.

    She has fluted east, she has fluted west,
    She has fluted loud and shrill.
    She wished that her sons were seven greyhounds
    And her a wolf on the hill.

    Then, Come downstairs, the new bride said,
    Oh, come down the stairs to me.
    And tell me the name of your father dear,
    And I'll tell mine to thee.

    Well, King Douglas,it was my father's name
    And Queen Chatryn was my mother
    And Sweet Mary, she was my sister dear
    And Prince Henry was my brother.

    If King Douglas, it is your father's name
    And Queen Chatryn is your mother
    Then I'm sure that I'm your sister dear
    As Prince Henry, he is your brother.

    And I have seven ships out on the sea
    They are loaded to the brim
    And six of them will I give to you
    And one more to carry me home.

    Yes, six of them will I give to you
    When we've had Lord Thomas burned!

As sung by Peter Bellamy on Wake the Vaulted Echoes

DRO