The Little Musgrave Lyrics - John Wesley Harding

As it fell out upon a day 

As many in the year 

Musgrave to the church did go 

To see fair ladies there 

And some came down in red velvet 

And some came down in pall 

And the last to come down was the lady barnard 

The fairest of them all 

She's cast a look on the little musgrave 

As bright as the summer sun 

And then bethought this little musgrave 

This lady's love I've won 

Good day good day you handsome youth 

God make you safe and free 

What would you give this day musgrave 

To lie one night with me 

I dare not for my lands, lady 

I dare not for my life 

For the ring on your white finger shows 

You are lord barnard's wife 

Lord barnard's to the hunting gone 

And I hope he'll never return 

And you shall slip into his bed 

And keep his lady warm 

There's nothing for to fear musgrave 

You nothing have to fear 

I'll set a page outside the gate 

To watch til morning clear 

And woe be to the little footpage 

And an ill death may he die 

For he's away to the green wood 

As fast as he could fly 

And when he came to the wide water 

He fell on his belly and swam 

And when he came to the other side 

He took to his heels and ran 

And when he came to the green wood 

'twas dark as dark can be 

And he found lord barnard and his men 

Asleep beneath the trees 

Rise up rise up master he said 

Rise up and speak to me 

Your wife's in bed with little musgrave 

Rise up right speedily 

If this be truth you tell to me 

Then gold shall be your fee 

And if it be false you tell to me 

Then hanged you shall be 

Go saddle me the black he said 

Go saddle me the grey 

And sound you not the horn said he 

Lest our coming it would betray 

Now there was a man in lord barnard's train 

Who loved the little musgrave 

And he blew his horn both loud and shrill 

Away musgrave away 

I think I hear the morning cock 

I think I hear the jay 

I think I hear lord barnard's horn 

Away musgrave away 

Lie still, lie still, you little musgrave 

And keep me from the cold 

It's nothing but a shepherd boy 

Driving his flock to the fold 

Is not your hawk upon it's perch 

Your steed is eating hay 

And you a gay lady in your arms 

And yet you would away 

So he's turned him right and round about 

And he fell fast asleep 

And when he woke lord barnard's men 

Were standing at his feet 

And how do you like my bed musgrave 

And how do you like my sheets 

And how do you like my fair lady 

That lies in your arms asleep 

It's well I like your bed he said 

And well I like your sheets 

But better I like your fair lady 

That lies in my arms asleep 

Get up, get up young man he said 

Get up as swift as you can 

For it never will be said in my country 

I slew an unarmed man 

I have two swords in one scabbard 

Full dear they cost my purse 

And you shall have the best of them 

I shall have the worst 

So slowly, so slowly he rose up 

And slowly he put on 

And slowly down the stairs he goes 

Thinking to be slain 

And the first stroke little musgrave took 

It was both deep and sore 

And down he fell at barnard's feet 

And word he never spoke more 

And how do you like his cheeks, lady 

And how do you like his chin 

And how do you like his fair body 

Now there's no life within 

It's well I like his cheeks she said 

And well I like his chin 

And better I like his fair body 

Than all your kith and kin 

And he's taken up his long long sword 

To strike a mortal blow 

And through and through the lady's heart 

The cold steel it did go 

As it fell out upon a day 

As many in the year 

Musgrave to the church did go 

To see fair ladies there