[Intro]
Am F Dm Am
[Verse]
Am F
A man there came from the far north lands
Dm Am
A maiden he did spy
Am F
He swore to take her in his hands
Dm Am
And she would be his bride
Am F
“Go fetch for me your father’s gold
Dm Am
Some of your mother’s fee
Am F
Two of the nags from the stable hold
Dm Am
Where there stand thirty-three”
Am F
She mounted up her milk-white steed
Dm Am
And he, a dapple-grey
Am F
They rode a mile to the stormy sea
Dm Am
In the early hours of day
Am F
“Doff off, doff off, thy silken things
Dm Am
Deliver them to me
Am F
They are too rich and set with rings
Dm Am
To rot in salty sea”
G
“Light off, light off and turn this way
G
Reveal yourself to me
Am F
I have here drowned six pretty maids
Dm Am
And you will the seventh be”
[Instrumental]
Am F Dm Am
Am F Dm Am
[Verse]
Am F
She said, “Doff off my silken things?
Dm Am
First turn your back on me
Am F
It is not right a ruffian king
Dm Am
A naked woman should see
Am F
Go fetch the sickle, the nettles crop
Dm Am
They grow too near the brim
Am F
And they may tangle my golden locks
Dm Am
Or freckle my milk-white skin”
Am F
And so he turned himself around
Dm Am
Surveyed the land so green
Am F
She caught him square, his neck she crowned
Dm Am
And threw him into the stream
G
“Lie there, lie there, and hold the tides
G
Lie down for the love of me
Am F
You’ve drowned yourself for six sweet brides
Dm Am
I’ll not the seventh be”
[Instrumental]
Am F Dm Am
Am F Dm Am
[Verse]
Am F
She mounted up her horse so fine
Dm Am
And took the mare of grey
Am F
She rode herself the country mile
Dm Am
And stowed them safe away
Am F
The parrot stood at his high window
Dm Am
“What ails? What ails? Young maid
Am F
Your face is bathed with the afterglow
Dm Am
The longest time you stayed”
G
“Oh, hold your tongue, my bird so bold
G
The king will hear of thee
Am F
Your cage I will make of the beaten gold
Dm Am
And hang in the willow tree”