Martin Simpson - Little Musgrave lyrics

As it fell out upon a day As many in the year Musgrave to the church did go To see fair ladies there The first to come down was dressed in red And the second dressed in pall The third to come down Was the Lady Barnard The fairest of them all She's tripped up to Little Musgrave As bright as the summer sun And then bethought this Little Musgrave This lady's love I've won Good day good day you handsome youth God make you safe and free What would you give this day Musgrave To spend the night with me I dare not for my lands, lady I dare not for my life For the ring on your white finger says You are Lord Barnard's wife What if I am Lord Barnard's wife Lord Barnard's not at home You shall slip into his bed And keep his lady warm You nothing have to fear Musgrave You nothing have to fear I'll set the page outside my door To watch til morning clear And it's woe be to the little footpage And an ill d**h may he die For he's away to the green woodside As fast as he could fly And when he came to the broke down bridge He bent to his breast and he swam And when he came to the other side He took to his heels and ran And when he came to the green woodside 'Twas dark as dark can be And he found Lord Barnard and his men Asleep beneath the trees Arise arise Master he said Arise and speak to me Your wife's in bed with Little Musgrave Arise right speedily If this be truth you tell to me Gold shall be your fee But if it be false you tell to me Hanged you shall be Go and saddle me the black he said Go and saddle me the grey But sound you not the horn said he Lest our coming it should betray But there was one in Lord Barnard's train He loved the Little Musgrave And he blew his horn so loud and shrill Away Musgrave Away Oh I think I hear the morning co*k I think I hear the jay I think I hear Lord Barnard's horn Away Musgrave Away Lie down, lie down, you little Musgrave And keep my back from the cold It's only Lord Barnard's shepherds horn Calling his sheep from the fold Is not your hawk upon its perch Your steed it's oats and hay And you a gay lady in your arms And yet you would away So he's turned him right and round about And he fell fast asleep And when he woke Lord Barnard's men Were standing at his feet Then it's how do you like my bed he says And how do you like my sheets And how do you like my lady gay That lies in your arms in sleep It's very well I like your bed And better I like your sheets And better I like your lady gay That lies in my arms in sleep Get up, get up Musgrave he cries Get up as quick as you can In England it shall never be said I slew a naked man And slowly, slowly he got up And slowly he put on And slowly down the stairs he come Thinking to be slain And the very first blow Little Musgrave took It was both deep and sore And down he fell at Barnard's feet And word he never spoke more And how do you like his cheeks, lady And how do you like his chin And how do you like his fair body Now there's no life within It's well I like his cheeks she said And well I like his chin And better I like his fair body Than all your kith and kin And he's taken up his long long sword To strike a mortal blow And through and through the Lady's heart The cold steel it did go As it fell out upon a day As many in the year Musgrave to the church did go To see fair ladies there