The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #140940 Message #3241041
Posted By: GUEST
18-Oct-11 - 08:47 PM
Thread Name: Reverse lyric search 'Wife at Usher's Well'
Subject: ADD Version: Wife at Usher's Well
I've been singing The Wife at Usher's Well off and on for over 30 years. We just recorded it but I can't remember where I learnt the songs nor can we find any lyrics that match up. Here are the words for my version:
WIFE AT USHER'S WELL
There was a knight and a lady bright Three little babes had she She sent them away to the north country For to learn their grammerie
They hadn't been gone but a very short time 'Bout six months and a day When death, cruel death, came riding along And carried those babes away
And when she heard her babes were dead She did mourn, she did weep 'Till they came to her one dark midnight Crying, "Mother, we cannot sleep"
She set the table, she gave them wine Gave them bread and gave them meat But they were not able to touch a bite "We are dead; we cannot eat
"Mother, oh mother, we cannot stay We must leave ere break of dawn Your weeping keeps us from our rest In our graves where we belong"