2: Lord William and Lady Margaret
Versions from the Singing Tradition
1: Prince William and Lady Marget
As sung by Duncan Johnstone, Birnam, Dunkeld, Perthshire
2: Lord William and Lady Margret
As sung by Willie Stewart, Springfield, Fife
[ HOME ] [ Numbered List ]
As sung by Willie Stewart, Springfield, Fife on 15th March 1968. Recorded by Peter and Lena Shepheard in Willie and his wife Margaret's traveller 'bow' tent [Spr 68.1.3].
Willie: "There is one [song] I can guarantee you now about 120 year old.
Peter: What is the name of the song?
Willie: "I mean, you can pick the name from it yourself - that's one thing I've never asked - the name of it you know. But, by the sound of the song, you'll realise yourself it is very old."
Oh well he mounted her on his white milk steed,
Hisself on the dapple grey;
And his bugle in his hand hangin down by his side,
This true lovers cam ridin away.
Well they rood an they rood an they far better rood,
It's all by the light of the moon,
Until that they cam to her seven brothers bold,
An their father an aged old man.
'Light down light down Lady Margret,' he cried,
'An hold my steed in your hand,
Till it's I go an fight now your seven brothers bold,
An' your father's an aged old man.'
They fought an they fought an they far better fought,
It's all by the light o the moon,
Until that he slew now her seven brothers bold,
An her father an aged old man.
'Take it to your choice Lady Margret,' he cried,
'It's whether will you go or stay.'
'But I must away Lord William,' she cried,
'For you never have left me a guide.'
So he mounted her on his white milk steed,
Hisself on the dapple grey,
Until that they cam to a little runnin river
Runnin down by the edge o the stream.
'Light down, light down Lady Margret,' he cried
'An' hold my steed in your hand
It's till I go an' wash at this little runnin' river
By the edge o the watery stream.'
'It's hold your head Lord William,' she cried
'It's hold your head in pain;
For it's I do see now your very heart's bled
Runnin down by the watery stream.'
'It's hold your hand Lady Margret,' he cried,
'Aloud I hear you a lie,
For it's only the scad of my red scarlet clock,
Runnin down by the watery stream.'
So they rood an' they rood an' they far better rood,
It was all by the light o the moon;
When e'er that they cam to his old mother's gate,
And it's all by the silvery moon. [And it's there they lighted doun
Then Lord William he died through the middle o the night,
Lady Margret the break o day;
And for every true lover that dis go together,
Now may wish them more pleasure than they.
See also Duncan Johnstone's version (67.3.3). Willie Stewart had certainly heard Duncan sing this but his text and tune have considerable differences. Willie had recently married Duncan's niece Margaret Johnstone. The fact that Willie's tune is different from Duncan's may be because Duncan, when he sang for me, had just sung 'The Dun Broun Bride' (Child 73: Lord Thomas and Fair Annie) and used a variant of the tune, perhaps improvised on the spot to suit the Prince William text.
[ HOME ]
[ TOP ]