Martin Carthy And Dave Swarbrick - Long Lankin lyrics

Says mylord to mylady as he mounted his horse, "Beware of Long Lankin that lives in the moss." Says mylord to mylady as he went on his way, "Beware of Long Lankin that lives in the hay." "See the doors are all bolted, see the windows all pinned, And leave not a crack for a mouse to creep in." Oh, the doors were all bolted, oh, the windows were pinned, But at a small peep in the window Long Lankin crept in. "Where's the lord of this household?" cries Long Lankin. "He's away up to London," says the false nurse to him. "Where's the lady of the household?" cries Long Lankin. "She's asleep in her chamber," says the false nurse to him. "Where's the heir of the household?" cries Long Lankin. "He's asleep in his cradle," says the false nurse to him. "We'll pinch him and we'll prick him all over with a pin. And that'll make mylady to come down to him." So they pinched him and they pricked him all over with a pin. And the false nurse held the basin for the blood to drip in. "Oh nurse how you slumber, oh nurse how you sleep, You leave my little son to cry and to weep." "Oh nurse how you slumber, oh nurse how you snore, You leave me little baby to cry and to roar." "Oh, I tried him with the milk and I've tried him with the pap. Come down, my pretty lady, and rock him in your lap." "Oh, I've tried him with the rattle and I've tried him with the bell. Come down, my pretty lady, and rock him yourself." "How dare I come down in the dead of the night When there's no candles burning nor no fires alight?" "You have three silver gowns all bright as the sun. Come down, my pretty lady, all by the light of one." Oh, the lady came downstairs, she was thinking no harm. Long Lankin he stood ready for to catch her in his arm. There's blood in the kitchen, there's blood in the hall, There's blood in the parlour where mylady did fall. Her handmaid stood out at the window so high And she saw her lord and master come a-riding close by. "Oh master, oh master, don't lay no blame on me. 'Twas the false nurse and Lankin that k**ed your lady." "Oh master, oh master, don't lay no blame on me. It was the false nurse and Lankin that k**ed your baby." Long Lankin shall be hanged on the gallows so high. And the false nurse shall be burned in the fire close by.