The Castle by the Sea
^^
Arise, O arise, my lady fair,
For you my bride shall be,
And we will dwell in a sylvan bower
In my castle by the sea.

And bring along your marriage fee,
Which you can claim today,
And also take your swiftest steeds,
The milk white and the grey.

The lady mounted her white steed,
He rode the turban grey.
They took the path by the wild sea shore,
Or so I've heard them say.

As she saw the walls of the castle high
That looked so black and cold,
She wished she'd remained in Boston town
With her ten thousand pounds in gold.

He halted by the wild sea shore,
"My bride you shall never be!
For six fair maidens I have drowned here,
The seventh you shall be."

"Take off, take off, your scarlet robes,
And lay them down by me.
They are too rich and too costly
To rot in the briny sea."

"Then turn your face to the water's side,
And your back to yonder tree.
For it is a disgrace for any man
An unclothed woman to see."

He turned his face to the water's side,
And his back to the lofty tree.
The lady took him in her arms,
And flung him into the sea.

"Lie there, lie there, you false young man,
And drown in place of me.
If six fair maidens you drowned here,
Go keep them company."

She then did mount her milk white steed,
And led the turban grey,
And rode until she came to Boston town
Two hours before it was day.

Singer: Lena Bourne Fish, 1940
source: Traditional American Folk Songs from the Frank and Anne Warner Collection, Anne Warner, 1984
Child #4

tune available on request