I too once had imaginary lovers to invoke when an unwanted suitor came round, so this song resonated with me. I decided to tidy it up for the Mudcat Singaround - made up a tune, tucked in some rhymes and near-rhymes, and added more steps to the plot.

It's surprising how important the word "weren't" becomes at the end. Grind out that r hard enough, and the bird's message simply drips with scorn. "You fool, you murdered out of jealousy at a person who doesn't even exist!"

It would be a good song to sing on Halloween.

The Scotland Man - Child 68

Come in, come in my own true love
and stay all night with me.
For I have a bed, and a very fine bed.
I'll give it up to thee, to thee.
I'll give it up to thee.

I can't come in, I ain't comin in
to stay the night with thee.
For I have a wife in old Scotland.
This night she weeps for me, for me.
This night she weeps for me.

She pushed, she pushed her little penknife.
Into his heart and out.
She cried out in a low, low voice
"There's a dead man in my house. my house.
"There's a dead man in my house."

She murmured to the serving maid,
"This thing I promise to thee.
Help me a-right on this dark night,
A gown I'll give to thee, to thee.
A gol-den gown for thee."

It's she took ahold of his long, curly hair
and the other took hold of his feet.
They throwed him down in the old dry well,
the well so cold and deep, so deep,
the well so cold and so deep.

"Lay there, cruel love, while moon doth glow
and hot, hot sun doth burn,
and thy pretty little wife in the old Scotland
shall mourn for thy return, return,
shall mourn for thy return."

She's headed for her fancy parlor door.
She rued her penknife so keen.
She saw in a tree a pretty little bird
all in the leaves so green, so green,
all in the leaves so green.

Up spoke, up spoke that pretty little bird
all from the willow tree.
"There weren't no wife in the old Scotland
that he loved far better than thee, than thee,
that he loved far better than thee.
No, there weren't no wife in the old Scotland
that he loved far better than thee."

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Now I'll see if I can make an ABC of the melody.