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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