[Intro]
D A D A
[Verse]
D
Sweet William arose on a May morning
G
And he dressed himself in blue
D Bm G
We want you to tell of that long love that's been
D G
Between Lady Margaret and you
[Verse]
D
"Oh, I know nothing of Lady Margaret's love
G
And I know she don't love me
D Bm G
Before tomorrow morning at eight of the clock
D G
Lady Margaret a bride shall see"
[Verse]
D
Lady Margaret was a-sitting in her own bower room
G
Combing back her yellow hair
D Bm G
And she saw Sweet William and his new wedded bride
D G
And the lawyers a-riding by
[Verse]
D
It's down she stood her ivory comb
G
And back she threw her hair
D Bm G
And it's you may suppose and be very well assured
D G
Lady Margaret was heard no more
[Verse]
D
The day being past and the night coming on
G
When most all men were asleep
D Bm G
Something appeared to Sweet William and his bride
D G
And stood at their bed feet
[Verse]
D
Saying, "How do you like your bed making
G
And how do you like your sheets?
D Bm G
And how do you like that new wedded bride
D G
That lies in your arms and sleeps?"
[Verse]
D
"Very well do I like my bed making
G
Much better do I like my sheets
D Bm G
But best of all is that gay lady
D G
That stands at my bed feet"
[Verse]
D
The night being past and the day coming on
G
When most all men were awake
D Bm G
Sweet William he said he was troubled in his head
D G
By the dreams that he dreamed last night
[Verse]
D
"Such dreams, such dreams cannot be true
G
I'm afraid they're of no good
D Bm G
I dreamed that my chamber was full of wild swine
D G
And my bride's bed floating in blood"
[Verse]
D
He's called down his waiting men
G
One by two by three
D Bm G
Saying, "Go and ask leave of my new wedded bride
D G
If Lady Margaret I mayn't go and see"
[Verse]
D
He's rode up to Lady Margaret's own bower room
G
And tingled all on the ring
D Bm G
And who was so ready as her own born brother
D G
To rise and let him in
[Verse]
D
"Is Lady Margaret in her own bower room
G
Or is she in her hall?
D Bm G
Or is she high in her chambery
D G
Amongst the ladies all?"
[Verse]
D
"Lady Margaret's not in her own bower room
G
Nor neither is she in her hall
D Bm G
She is in her long cold coffin
D G
Lies pale against yon wall"
[Verse]
D
"Unroll, unroll those winding sheets
G
Although they're very fine
D Bm G
And let me kiss them cold pale lips
D G
Just as often as they've kissed mine"
[Verse]
D
It's first he's kissed her ivory cheeks
G
And then he's kissed her chin
D Bm G
And when he kissed them cold pale lips
D G
There was no breath within
[Verse]
D
Three times he's kissed her ivory cheeks
G
Three times he's kissed her chin
D Bm G
And the last time he kissed them cold pale lips
D G
It crushed his heart within
[Verse]
D
Lady Margaret died like it might be today
G
Sweet William he died on tomorrow
D Bm G
Lady Margaret she died for pure true love
D G
Sweet William he died for sorrow
[Verse]
D
Lady Margaret was buried in yon churchyard
G
Sweet William was buried by her
D Bm G
And out of her grave sprung a red, red rose
D G
Out of his a green, green briar
[Verse]
D
And they both growed up the old church wall
G
Till they could not grow any higher
D Bm G
And they met and they tied in a true love's knot
D G
Red rose around green briar