Little Musgrave Lyrics

Planxty Little Musgrave

It fell (D) upon a holy (Em) day,
As many (D) in the year,
Musgrave (D) to the church (Em) did go,
To see (D) fine ladies (A) there (D)

And some (D) were dressed in velvet (Em) red
And some (D) in velvet pale
Then (D) came Lord Barnard's (EM) wife
The fairest (D) 'mongst (A) them all (D)

She cast (D) an eye on the Little Musgrave
As bright (D) as summer's sun
Said (D) Musgrave unto himself
This lady's (D) heart (G) I've won (D)

"I have loved you, fair lady, full long and many's the
day."
"And I have loved you, Little Musgrave, and never a
word did say."

"I've a bower in Bucklesfordbury, it's my heart's
delight.
I'll take you back there with me if you'll lie in me
arms tonight."

But standing by was a little footpage, from the lady's
coach he ran,
"Although I am a lady's page, I am Lord Barnard's man."

"And milord Barnard will hear of this, oh whether I
sink or swim."
Everywhere the bridge was broke he'd enter the water
and swim.

"Oh milord Barnard, milord Barnard, you are a man of
life,
But Musgrave, he's at Bucklesfordbury, asleep with your
wedded wife."

"If this be true, me little footpage, this thing that
you tell me,
All the gold in Bucklesfordbury I gladly will give to
thee."

"But if this be a lie, me little footpage, this thing
that you tell me,
From the highest tree in Bucklesfordbury hanged you
will be."

"Go saddle me the black," he said, "go saddle me the
gray."
"And sound ye not your horns," he said, "lest our
coming be betrayed."

But there was a man in Lord Barnard's thrain, who loved
the Little Musgrave,
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 men, I wish I was away."

"Lie still, lie still, me Little Musgrave, hug me from
the cold,
It's nothing but a shepherd lad, a-bringing his flock
to fold."

"Is not your hawk upon it's perch, your steed eats oats
and hay,
And you a lady in your arms, and yet you'd go away."

He's turned her around and he's kissed her twice, and
then they fell asleep,
When they awoke Lord Barnard's men were standing at
their feet.

"How do ye like me bed," he said, "and how do you like
me sheets?"
"How do you like me fair lady, that lies in your arms
asleep?"

"It's well I like your bed," he said, "and great it
gives me pain,
I'd gladly give a hundred pound to be on yonder plain."

"Rise up, rise up, Little Musgrave, rise up and then
put on.
It'll not be said in this country I slayed a naked
man."

So slowly, so slowly he got up, so slowly he put on.
Slowly down the stairs, thinking to be slain.

"There are two swords down by my side, and dear they
cost me purse.
You can have the best of them, and I will take the
worst."

And the first stroke that Little Musgrave stroke, it
hurt Lord Barnard sore,
But the next stroke Lord Barnard stroke, Little
Musgrave ne'er stroke more.

And then up spoke the lady fair, from the bed whereon
she lay,
"Although you're dead, me Little Musgrave, still for
you I'll pray."

"How do you like his cheeks," he said, "How do you like
his chin?"
"How do you like his dead body, now there's no life
within?"

"It's more I like his cheeks," she cried, "and more I
want his chin,
It's more I love that dead body, than all your kith and
kin."

He's taken out his long long sword, to strike the
mortal blow,
Through and through the lady's heart, the cold steel it
did go.

"A grave, a grave," Lord Barnard cried, "to put these
lovers in,
with me lady on the upper hand. She came from better
kin."

"For I've just killed the finest knight that ever rode
a steed."
"And I've just killed the finest lady that ever did a
woman's deed."

It fell upon a holy day, as many's in the year,
Musgrave to the church did go, to see fine ladies
there.