Willie's Lady
(Ray Fisher version 1 - Martin Carthy cover)
Words & Music:
Traditional English &
Breton(?)
Notes from the Mudcat Cafˇ
on this song: :Ray Fisher married
the words to the tune of the Breton "Son ar Chiste" (The Song of
Cider) which was written in 1930 by a piper who is now a tramp on the streets
of Paris. The story of the song is very close to that of the birth of Hercules,
although there the timing of the trickery is, if anything, even more
critical."
To play like Martin Carthy,
try tuning your guitar to DADEAE (or CGCDGA or DADGAD) and noodle along the
melody line while keeping the drone going. Don't worry about meter. Better yet, go search for his books or videos. There is no one else like him.
King Willie, he's sailed over
the raging foam.
He's wooed a wife and he's
brought her home.
He wooed her for her long
golden hair.
His mother wrought her a
mighty care.
A weary spell she's laid on
her:
She'd be with child for long
and many's a year.
But the child she would never
bear.
And in her bower she lies in
pain.
King Willie at her bed-head,
he do stand.
As down his cheeks the salten
tears do run.
King Willie back to his mother
he did run
And he's gone there as a
begging son.
Said: "Me true love has
this fine noble steed,
The like of which you ne'er
did see.
At every part of this horse's
mane,
There's hanging fifty silver
bells and ten.
There's hanging fifty bells
and ten.
This goodly gift, shall be
your own.
If back to my own true love
you'll turn again
That she might bear her baby
son.
Of the child, she'll never
lighter be
Nor from sickness will she e'r
be free
But she will die and she will
turn to clay
And you will wed with another
maid.
Then, sighing, said this weary
man
As back to his own true love
he's torn again
"I wish my life were at
an end."
King Willie back to his mother
he did run
And he's gone there as a
begging son.
Said: "Me true love has
this fine golden girdle,
Set with jewels all about the
middle."
At every part of this girdles
hem.
There's hanging fifty silver bells
and ten.
There's hanging fifty bells
and ten.
This goodly gift, shall be
your own.
If back to my own true love
you'll turn again
That she might bear her baby
son.
Oh, Of the child, she'll never
lighter be
Nor from sickness will she e'r
be free
But she will die and she will
turn to clay
And you will wed with another
maid.
Then, sighing, said this weary
man
As back to his own true love
he's torn again
"I wish my life were at
an end."
Then up and spoke his noble
queen,
And she has told King Willie
of a plan
How she might bear her baby
son.
She said: "You must go
get you down to the market place
And you must buy a you loaf of
wax.
And you must shape it as a
babe that is to nurse.
And you must make two eyes of
glass.
And ask your mother to a
Christening day
And you must stand there,
close as you can be
That you can hear what she do
say.
King Willie, he's gone down to
the market place.
And he has bought him a loaf
of wax.
And he has shaped it as a babe
that is to nurse
And he has made two eyes of glass.
He asked his mother to the
Christening day
And he has stood there, as
close as he could be
That he might hear what she
did say.
How she spoke, and how she
swore
She spied the babe where no
babe could be before
She spied the babe where none
could be before
Says: "Who was it, who
undid the nine witch knots,
Braided in amongst this lady's
locks.
And who was it took out the
combs of care,
Braided in amongst this lady's
hair.
And who was it slew the master
kid
That ran and slept all beneath
this lady's bed
That ran and slept all beneath
her bed.
And who was it unlaced her
left shoe
And who was it that let her
lighter be
That she might bear her baby
boy.
And it was Willie who undid
the nine witch knots
Braided in amongst this lady's
locks.
And it was Willie who took out
the combs of care,
Braided in amongst this lady's
hair.
And it was Willie the master
kid did slay
And it was Willie who unlaced
her left foot shoe
And he has let her lighter be.
And she has born of a baby son
And greater the blessings that
be them upon
And greater the blessings them
upon