I've been captivated by the version of Henry Lee that Crooked Still has recently released on their "Some Strange Country" album. Here's a youtube clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nx4HzVP91lM

The lyrics as printed in the booklet:

Lie down lie down love, Henry Lee
And stay with me this night
You will have my candle and coal
My fire's burning bright

I won't lie down I can't lie down
Nor stay all night with thee
There's a lady ten times fairer than you
In Barnard's hall for me

He's leaning o'er her soft pillow
To give her a kiss so sweet
But her little pen knife held keen and sharp
She's wounded him full deep

I will lie down I must lie down
I will come in said he
There is no lady in Barnard's hall
That I love better than thee
I love more better than thee

Oh live my love Lord Henry she said
For an hour or two or three
And all these cards about my waist
I'd freely give to thee

All them cards about your waist
They do no good to me
Love don't you see my own card's flash
Come twinkling at my knee

She took him by his long yellow hair
She dragged him by his feet
She threw him down a cool dark well
Full fifty fathoms deep

Lie down lie down you pretty little bird
Lie down all on my knee
No, a girl who'd murder her own true love
Would kill a little bird like me

I wish I had my bending bow
My arrow and my string
I'd shoot my dart right through your heart
So you'd no longer sing

I wish you had your bending bow
Your arrow and your string
I'd fly on back to Barnard's hall
You'd always hear me sing


So it avoids the whole golden cage and property etc by skipping that verse, and in the process making it a little confusing standing on it's own. What's this bird got to do with it? :-)

But my question - what is this part about "cards about my waist"? What does that mean?