Clerk Saunders

Clerk Saunders and May Margaret
Were walking on yon gravelled green
Sad and heavy was the love
I wot it fell this twa between

"A bed, a bed," Clerk Saunders said
"A bed, a bed for you and me"
"Oh no, oh no," the lady cried
"Until the day we mairrit be

For in will come my seven brithers
And a' their torches burnin' bright
They'll say we hae but yin sister
And here she's lying wi' you this night"

"You'll tak the sword frae my scabbard
And loowly, loowly lift the gin
And ye maun swear a solemn oath
Ye'll never let Clerk Saunders in"

"You'll tak me in your airms twa
And carry me ben untae yer bed
And ye maun swear a solemn oath
Across your bower I ne'er did tread"

They werenae lang untae the room
They werenae lang untae the bed
When in there cam her seven brithers
And a' their torches were burnin' red

Oot then spak the first brither
"It's lang since ere this love began"
Oot then spak the second brither
"It's a sin tae kill a sleepin' man"

Oot then spak the third brither
"We'd better gang and let them be"
Oot then spak the neist o' them
"You'll no be killed this nicht for me"

Oot then spak the fifth brither
Aye and an' angry man was he
"I bear the sword in my right hand
That will gar Clerk Saunders dee"

He's taen oot his lang, lang sword
That he had strappit through the strae
And through and through Clerk Saunders' body
I wot he has garred iron gae

"Awake, awake, Clerk Saunders," she says
"Awake, awake for sin and shame
For the day is light, the sun shines bright
And I'm afraid we will be taen"

Aye she waukened this dead man
Aye she rocked him to and fro
Aye she waukened this dead man
But of his death she did not know

"I'll do as much for ye, Clerk Saunders
Whatever ladies wouldnae thole
'Til seven years has passed and gane
There's nae a shoe gaes on my sole

There'll ne'er be a sark upon by back
There'll ne'er be a kaim-straik through my hair
There'll ne'er be coal or candle light
Shine in my bower nae mare"
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