Earl Richard

Trad  (Variant of Child #68, Roud #47 - 'Young Hunting')

 

Earl Richard has a hunting gane 

As fast as he could ride

His hunting horn hung aboot his neck

an his short sword by his side

When he cam tae my lady's gate

He's tirled at the pin

And wha so fain as she hersel'

To rise and let him in

 

Oh light, oh light, Earl Richard - she says

Alight and stay a' night

you shall hae cheer with charcoal clear 

And the candles burning bright

I winna light, no I canna light

No I winna light at a

For a fairer maid than ten o' ye

Is a-waiting in my ha

 

He stooped doon fae aff his steed

And kissed her cherry cheek

She's had a penknife in her hand 

And wounded him sae deep

Oh lie you there, Earl Richard – she says

Lie you there 'til morn

And a fairer maid than ten of me 

Will await your coming lang

 

She's ca'd her servants ain by ain

And ca'd them twa by twa

I hae a dead man in my bower

And I wash he were awa

Ain has taen him by the hand

And the other by the feet

And the deepest well in Clyde water

They've made his winding sheet

 

Then up and spake a wee, wee bird 

That sat upon a tree:

Gae hame, gae hame you false lady 

And pay your maids the fee

Come doon, come doon, my bonnie bird

O come you doon to me

I hae a cage of the beaten gold

And I'll gie it to thee

 

O gae hame, gae hame, you false lady 

And pay your maids the fee

As you hae done to Earl Richard 

So wad you dae tae me

Gin I had an arrow in my hand

And a bow bent on a string

I'd shoot a dart at your proud heart 

All in the leaves sae green