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THE DROWNED LOVERS
CLYDE WATER

sung by Nic Jones : Trad ~ child 216
Willie sits in his stable door
And he's combing his coal-black steed
And he's doubting on fair Margaret's love
And his heart began to bleed

"Give corn unto my horse, mother,"
"And meat to my man John,"
"And I'll away to fair Margaret's bower"
"Before the night comes on"

"Oh stay at home with me dear Willie"
"Oh stay at home with me"
"And the very best cock in all the roost"
"For your own supper will be"

"It's all your cocks and all your roosts"
"As I value not a pin"
"But I'll away to fair Margaret's bower"
"Before the night sets in"

"If you go to fair Margaret's bower"
"Without the leave of me"
"In the deepest part of Clyde Water"
"Then drowned you will be"

"Oh, the good steed that I ride upon"
"Cost me thrice thirty pounds"
"And I'll trust in his swift feet"
"To take me safe and sound"

He's ridden o'er the high high hills
And down the downy den
And the noise that was in the Clyde Water
Would have feared five hundred men

"Oh roaring Clyde you roar so loud"
"Your streams are wondrous strong"
"Make me a wreck as I come back"
"But spare me as I'm going"

Oh when he's got to Margaret's bower
He holds low on the pin
"Oh wake up me maid Margaret"
"Rise up and let me in"

"Oh who is this at my bower door"
"A-calling maid Margaret's name?"
"It's only your first love little William"
"This night come to her home"

"Open your gates this night"
"Open and let me in"
"For me boots they are full of the Clyde Water"
"And I'm frozen to the skin"

"Me barns are full of corn, Willie"
"The stable's full of hay"
"And me bower's full of gentlemen"
"They'll not remove 'till day"

"Then it's fare thee well to you maid Margaret"
"It's fare thee well and adieu"
"For I have won my mother's own curse"
"In coming this night to you"

And as he's ridden o'er on high high hill
And down yon downy den
And the rushing in the Clyde Water
Took Willie's cane from him

And he's leaned him over his saddle bold
To catch his cane again
And the rushing in the Clyde Water
Took Willie's hat from him

And he's leaned him over his saddle bold
To catch his had by force
But the rushing in the Clyde water
Took Willie from his horse

And the very hour that young man sank
Into the parts so deep
There up and woke his maid Margaret
Out from her drowsy sleep

"Come here come here my mother dear"
"And you read my dreary dream"
"I dreamed my lover was at our gates"
"And nobody let him in"

"Lie down, lie down, you maid Margaret"
"Lie down and take your rest"
"And since your lover was at our gates"
"He's but two quarters passed"

Then nimbly nimbly rose she up
Went down to the river's brim
And the louder that this lady cried
The louder grew the wind

And the very first step that she went in
She stepped up to her feet
And it's oh and alas this lady cried
The water's wondrous deep

And the very next step that she went in
She's waded to her knee
Says she "I would wade farther in"
"If I my true love could see"

And the very next step that she went in
She's waded to her chin
And the deepest part of Clyde Water
She found sweet William in

Saying "You have had a cruel mother, Willie"
"And I have had another"
"And now we'll sleep in Clyde Water"
"Like sister and like brother"