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The Lass of Roch Royal

No: 76; variant: 76G

  1. IT fell on a Wodensday, Love Gregory's taen the sea, And he has left his lady Janet, And a weary woman was she.
  2. But she had na been in child-bed A day but barely three, Till word has come to Lady Janet Love Gregory she would never see.
  3. She's taen her mantle her middle about, Her cane into her hand, And she's awa to the salt-sea side, As fast as she could gang.
  4. 'Whare will I get a curious carpenter, Will make a boat to me? I'm going to seek him Love Gregory, In's lands where eer he be.'
  5. 'Here am I, a curious carpenter, Will make a boat for thee, And ye may seek him Love Gregory, But him ye'll never see.'
  6. She sailed up, she sailed down, Thro many a pretty stream, Till she came to that stately castle, Where Love Gregory lay in.
  7. 'Open, open, Love Gregory, O open, and lat me in; Your young son is in my arms, And shivering cheek and chin.'
  8. 'Had awa, ye ill woman, Had far awa frae me; Ye're but some witch, or some warlock, Or the mermaid, troubling me.
  9. 'My lady she's in Lochranline, Down by Lochlearn's green; This day she wadna sail the sea, For goud nor warld's gain.
  10. 'But if ye be my lady Janet, As I trust not well ye be, Come tell me oer some love-token That past 'tween thee an me.'
  11. 'Mind on, mind on now, Love Gregory, Since we sat at the wine; The rings that were on your fingers, I gied thee mine for thine.
  12. 'And mine was o the good red goud, Yours o the silly tin, And mine's been true, and very true, But yours had a fause lynin.
  13. 'But open, open, Love Gregory, Open, and let me in; Your young son is in my arms, He'll be dead ere I win in.'
  14. 'Had awa, ye ill woman, Had far awa frae me; Ye're but some witch, or some warlock, Or the mermaid, troubling me.
  15. 'But if ye be my lady Janet, As I trust not well ye be; Come tell me o'er some love-token That past tween thee and me.'
  16. 'Mind on, mind on, Love Gregory, Since we sat at the wine; The shifts that were upon your back, I gave thee mine for thine.
  17. 'And mine was o the good holland, And yours o the silly twine, And mine's been true, and very true, But yours had fause lynin.'