An outlandish knight came from the north lands And he scarcely could leave me alone And he promised he take me the wide world to see Oh fly home lost ladies, fly home He said “Come fetch to me some of your father's bright gold Fetch me some of your mother's own fee And come fetch me the best nags from out of your yard Where they stand full thirty and three Where they stand full thirty and three” She's mounted onto her silver-white horse And he's mounted her father's strong grey And they've rode till they've come to the rocky sea shore Three dark hours before it was day “Oh light off, light off your silver-white horse And deliver yourself unto me For six pretty girls have I drowned right here And the seventh girl you now shall be Oh the seventh girl you now shall be” “Pull off, pull off your soft silken gown And deliver it here unto me For the fabric's too fine and too costly by far To let rot in the cold briny sea And pull off, pull off your good holland smock
And deliver it here unto me For it seems like a waste to let such clothes be lost While the fishes they nibble at thee While the fishes they nibble at thee” “Well if I must strip down full naked and bare Cut the thorn that grows there by the brim Or else it might catch in my curly gold hair And tear my glittering skin” Well he's taken his knife and he's turned to the thorn That grows by the salt water's brim But so speedy she's run and she's pushed him so hard That she's thrown this false young man in To the foam she's fast thrown him in He's tumbled up high and he's tumbled down low Till he's come to the rocky sea side, crying “Catch hold of my hand, my pretty fair lady And I will make you my bride” “Oh lie there, lie there, you false hearted man Make your bed in the deep briny blue For six pretty girls have you drowned right here But the seventh girl has drowned you Oh the seventh girl has drowned you”