Alison Cross

Alison Cross lives in yon tower

The ugliest witch in the north countrie

She's trysted me ae day 'til her bower

And mony's the braw spreech she made tae me

She showed me a mantle o reid scarlet

Weel wrocht wi gowd and fringes fine

Says, "Gin ye'll be my leman sae true

This gudely gift, it shall be thine"

Chorus:

"Awa, awa ye ugly witch

Haud far awa and let me be

Afore I'll kiss yer ugly mou

I'd raither toddle aroond the tree"

She showed me a sark o the saftest silk

Weel wrocht wi pearls abune the band

Says, "Gin ye'll be my leman sae true

This gudely gift's at your command"

(Chorus)

She showed me a cup o the gude reid gowd

Weel wrocht wi jewels sae fair and fine

Says, "Gin ye'll be my leman sae true

This gudely gift, it shall be thine"

(Chorus)

An' she's ta'en oot her grass-green horn

She blew it three times loud and shrill

She swore by the moon and the stars abune

She'd gar me rue the day I ever was born

An' she's ta'en oot her silvery wand

She straiked it three time o'er her knee

She's muttered sic words as my senses failed

I feel doon senseless tae the ground

(Chorus)

It fell upon last Halloween

When the seely coort came riding by

The queen's lichtit doon on a gowany bank

Nae far fae the tree whaur I did lie

An' she's ta'en oot her silvery wand

She straked it three times o'er her knee

She's turned me back tae ma proper shape

Nae mare tae toddle aroond the tree

(Chorus 2x)