Story Behind the Song
The tune and text are from
Bronson, with a bit of editing. 'La
Rotta' is a 14th century Italian tune.
Lyrics
False Sir John a wooing went to a lady young and fair
May Colvin was this lady's name, her father's only heir
It's 'Give me some of your father's gold and some of your mother's fee
And I'll take thee to a far-off land and there I'll marry thee.'
She's mounted on a milk-white steed and he on a dapple grey
And they rode till they came to a lonesome spot, a cliff by the side of the sea
'Light down, light down,' said false Sir John, 'thy bridal bed to see,
It's seven women have I drowned here, and the eighth one you shall be.
'Have off, have off thy gown of silk with borders all around,
For it's far too costly to lay down here and rot on the cold, cold ground.'
'Turn around, turn around, thou false Sir John, and look at the leaves on the tree,
For it don't become a gentleman a naked maid to see.'
Now false Sir John has turned around to look at the leaves on the tree
And she's made a dash with her arms so strong and pushed him into the sea
'Lie there, lie there, thou false-hearted wretch, lie there instead of me,
It's seven women have you drowned here and the eighth has drowned thee.'
|
lo fi play
hi fi play
download
email track to a friend
add to My.MP3