Eliza Carthy:
"I must be going, no longer staying
The burning Thames I have to cross
I will be guided without a stumble
Into the arms I love the best."
And when he came to his true love's window
He knelt down gently all on a stone
And it's through the pane he has whispered slowly
"My darling dear, do you lie alone?"
She's raised her head from her down-soft pillow
And snowy were her milk-white breasts
Saying: ?Who's there, who's there at my bedroom window
Disturbing me from my long night's rest?"
"Tis I, your love, but don't discover
I pray you rise and let me in
For I am fatigued from my long night's journey
Besides, I am wet unto my skin."
So this young girl rose and put on her clothing
So swift she's let her true love in
And it's there they kissed and embraced each other
Through that long night they lay as one
Then it's: "Willy dear, oh dearest Willy
Where's your colour you'd some time ago?"
"O Mary dear, the clay has changed me
And I'm but the ghost of your Willy, oh."
"Then it's co*k, oh co*k, oh handsome co*kerel
I pray you not crow before it is day
And your wings I'll make of the very first beaten gold
Your comb I will make of the silver grey."
But the co*k he crew, and he crew so fully
He crew three hours before it was day
And before twas day, my love had to leave me
Not by light of the moon nor light of the sun
"So Willy dear, oh dearest Willy
When shall I see you again?"
"When the fishes fly, love, and the sea runs dry, love
And the rocks they melt in the heat of the sun"
Jez Lowe:
"I must be going, no longer staying
The burning Thames I have to cross
Oh, I must be guided without a stumble
Into the arms of my dear la**."
When he came to his true love's window
He knelt down gently on a stone
And it's through a pane he whispered slowly:
"My dear girl, are you alone?"
She rose her head from her down-soft pillow
And snowy were her milk-white breasts
Saying: "Who's there, who's there at my bedroom window
Disturbing me from my long night's rest?"
"Oh, I'm your love and don't discover
I pray you rise, love, and let me in
For I am fatigued from my long night's journey
Besides, I am wet into the skin."
Now this young girl rose and put on her clothing
She quickly let her own true love in
Oh, they kissed, shook hands, and embraced together
Till that long night was near an end
"Oh Willie dear, oh dearest Willie
Where is that colour you'd some time ago?"
"O Mary dear, the clay has changed me
I'm but the ghost of your Willie, oh."
"Then oh co*k, oh co*k, oh handsome co*kerel
I pray you not crow until it is day
For your wings I'll make of the very first beaten gold
And your comb I'll make of the silver grey."
But the co*k it crew, and it crew so fully
It crew three hours before it was day
And before it was day, my love had to leave me
Not by the light of the moon or the light of day
Then it's "Willie dear, oh dearest Willie
Whenever shall I see you again?"
"When the fish they fly, love, and the sea runs dry, love
And the rocks they melt in the heat of the sun."