| 1 |
As I went by a jail-house door,
Maid's love whiles is easy won
I saw a prisoner standing there,
'I wish I were home in fair Scotland. |
| 2 |
'Fair maid, will you pity me?
Maid's love whiles is easy won
Ye'll steal the keys, let me gae free:
I'll make you my lady in fair Scotland. |
| 3 |
'I'm sure you have no need of me,
Maid's love whiles is easy won
For ye have a wife and bairns three,
That lives at home in fair Scotland.' |
| 4 |
He swore by him that was crownd with thorn,
Maid's love whiles is easy won
That he never had a wife since the day he was born,
But livd a free lord in fair Scotland. |
| 5 |
She went unto her father's bed-head,
Maid's love whiles is easy won
She's stown the key o mony a lock,
She's let him out o prison strong. |
| 6 |
She's went to her father's stable,
Maid's love whiles is easy won
She's stown a steed baith wight and able,
To carry them on to fair Scotland. |
| 7 |
They rode till they came to a muir,
Maid's love whiles is easy won
He bade her light aff, they'd call her a whore,
If she didna return to Northumberland. |
| 8 |
They rode till they came to a moss,
Maid's love whiles is easy won
He bade her light aff her father's best horse,
And return her again to Northumberland. |
| 9 |
'I'm sure I have no need of thee,
Maid's love whiles is easy won
When I have a wife and bairns three,
That lives at home in fair Scotland.' |
| 10 |
'I'll be cook in your kitchen,
Maid's love whiles is easy won
And serve your lady handsomelie,
For I darena gae back to Northumberland.' |
| 11 |
'Ye cannot be cook in my kitchen,
Maid's love whiles is easy won
My lady cannot fa sic servants as thee,
So ye'll return again to Northumberland.' |
| 12 |
When she went thro her father's ha,
Maid's love whiles is easy won
She looted her low amongst them a',
She was the fair flower o Northumberland. |
| 13 |
Out spake her father, he spake bold,
Maid's love whiles is easy won
'How could ye be a whore in fifteen years old,
And you the flower of Northumberland?' |
| 14 |
Out spake her mother, she spake wi a smile,
Maid's love whiles is easy won
'She's nae the first his coat did beguile,
Ye're welcome again to Northumberland.' |
