OK, here are what I think are credible lyrics. As far as I can tell, the song appears only on the Steeleye Span Rocket Cottage CD (1976), which I don't have - no recordings by any other artist. I'm not sure I believe the contention that the song is traditional. See below.
http://friedl.heim.at has more credible-sounding lyrics, since they're derived from lyrics on Reinhard Zierke's site:
The Twelve Witches
(Trad. arr. Tim Hart / Peter Knight / Maddy Prior / Robert Johnson / Rick Kemp / Nigel Pegrum)
Oh there were twelve witches bold
And they lived in the North,
And their equals were not seen
On the face of the Earth.
The first witch, with her hand,
The storm could hush,
And the second witch could stop
All the torrents rush.
And the third witch, she could strike
Upon the golden lyre,
And she charmed both young and old
Into the dancing fire.
Chorus:
|: Rowan tree, red thread,
Hold the witches all in dread. :|
The fourth witch she could dive
In the sea as a fish,
And the fifth witch she never wanted
Any meat on a dish.
And now the next witch go
Under the earth could she,
And the seventh witch could dance
Upon the rolling sea.
And the eighth witch on her horn
She would blow a blast,
And everyone who heard
Would shudder and stand aghast.
Chorus
Oh the ninth witch she tamed all
That in the greenwood crept,
And the tenth witch, not a nap
She had ever slept.
The eleventh witch, the grisly
Lindworm bound,
And the twelfth witch she could all
Things understand.
And these twelve witches bold,
They all lived in the North,
And their equals were not seen
On the face of the Earth.
Chorus (repeat and fade)
Now, the above says the song is traditional, adapted by Steeleye Span. Peter Kennedy's folktrax.org seems to attribute it to Steeleye Span:
TWELVE WITCHES - "O there were 12W bold & they lived in the North - Rowan Tree, Red Thread, hold the witches in dread" comp (?) -- STEELEYE SPAN: CHRYSALIS CHR-1123 1976
users.actrix.co.nz/newbery has a very nice (and very complete) Steeleye Span discography (no lyrics). Unfortunately, Reinhard Zierke has taken down his folk music pages. Zierke's Website refers visitors to The Unofficial Steeleye Span Home Page, which does not appear to be a complete collection of the group's lyrics. Steeleye Span: The Complete Lyrics (linked to by Peace below) seems to be the best place to go for lyrics.
-Joe-