Child Ballads - Lyrics

Child 21
The Maid and the Palmer
Version A

Percy Manuscript, p. 461. Furnivall, IV, 96.

1	The maid shee went to the well to washe, Lillumwham, lillumwham! The mayd shee went to the well to washe, Whatt then? what then? The maid shee went to the well to washe, Dew fell of her lilly white fleshe. Grandam boy, grandam boy, heye! Leg a derry, leg a merry, mett, mer, whoope, whir! Driuance, larumben, grandam boy, heye!
2	While shee washte and while shee ronge, Lillumwham, lillumwham! While shee washte and while shee ronge, Whatt then? what then? While shee washte and while shee ronge, While shee hangd o the hazle wand. Grandam boy, grandam boy, heye! Leg a derry, leg a merry, mett, mer, whoope, whir! Driuance, larumben, grandam boy, heye!
3	There came an old palmer by the way, Lillumwham, lillumwham! There came an old palmer by the way, Whatt then? what then? There came an old palmer by the way, Sais, 'God speed thee well, thou faire maid!' Grandam boy, grandam boy, heye! Leg a derry, leg a merry, mett, mer, whoope, whir! Driuance, larumben, grandam boy, heye!
4	'Hast either cupp or can, Lillumwham, lillumwham! 'Hast either cupp or can, Whatt then? what then? 'Hast either cupp or can, To giue an old palmer drinke therin?' Grandam boy, grandam boy, heye! Leg a derry, leg a merry, mett, mer, whoope, whir! Driuance, larumben, grandam boy, heye!
5	Sayes, 'I have neither cupp nor cann, Lillumwham, lillumwham! Sayes, 'I have neither cupp nor cann, Whatt then? what then? Sayes, 'I have neither cupp nor cann, To giue an old palmer drinke therin.' Grandam boy, grandam boy, heye! Leg a derry, leg a merry, mett, mer, whoope, whir! Driuance, larumben, grandam boy, heye!
6	'But an thy lemman came from Roome, Lillumwham, lillumwham! 'But an thy lemman came from Roome, Whatt then? what then? 'But an thy lemman came from Roome, Cupps and canns thou wold find soone.' Grandam boy, grandam boy, heye! Leg a derry, leg a merry, mett, mer, whoope, whir! Driuance, larumben, grandam boy, heye!
7	She sware by God & good St. John, Lillumwham, lillumwham! She sware by God & good St. John, Whatt then? what then? She sware by God & good St. John, Lemman had shee neuer none. Grandam boy, grandam boy, heye! Leg a derry, leg a merry, mett, mer, whoope, whir! Driuance, larumben, grandam boy, heye!
8	Sais, 'Peace, faire mayd, you are forsworne! Lillumwham, lillumwham! Sais, 'Peace, faire mayd, you are forsworne! Whatt then? what then? Sais, 'Peace, faire mayd, you are forsworne! Nine children you haue borne. Grandam boy, grandam boy, heye! Leg a derry, leg a merry, mett, mer, whoope, whir! Driuance, larumben, grandam boy, heye!
9	'Three were buryed vnder thy bed's head, Lillumwham, lillumwham! 'Three were buryed vnder thy bed's head, Whatt then? what then? 'Three were buryed vnder thy bed's head, Other three vnder thy brewing leade. Grandam boy, grandam boy, heye! Leg a derry, leg a merry, mett, mer, whoope, whir! Driuance, larumben, grandam boy, heye!
10	'Other three on yon play greene; Lillumwham, lillumwham! 'Other three on yon play greene; Whatt then? what then? 'Other three on yon play greene; Count, maid, and there be 9.' Grandam boy, grandam boy, heye! Leg a derry, leg a merry, mett, mer, whoope, whir! Driuance, larumben, grandam boy, heye!
11	'But I hope you are the good old man Lillumwham, lillumwham! 'But I hope you are the good old man Whatt then? what then? 'But I hope you are the good old man That all the world beleeues vpon. Grandam boy, grandam boy, heye! Leg a derry, leg a merry, mett, mer, whoope, whir! Driuance, larumben, grandam boy, heye!
12	'Old palmer, I pray thee, Lillumwham, lillumwham! 'Old palmer, I pray thee, Whatt then? what then? 'Old palmer, I pray thee, Pennaunce that thou wilt giue to me.' Grandam boy, grandam boy, heye! Leg a derry, leg a merry, mett, mer, whoope, whir! Driuance, larumben, grandam boy, heye!
13	'Penance I can giue thee none, Lillumwham, lillumwham! 'Penance I can giue thee none, Whatt then? what then? 'Penance I can giue thee none, But 7 yeere to be a stepping-stone. Grandam boy, grandam boy, heye! Leg a derry, leg a merry, mett, mer, whoope, whir! Driuance, larumben, grandam boy, heye!
14	'Other seaven a clapper in a bell, Lillumwham, lillumwham! 'Other seaven a clapper in a bell, Whatt then? what then? 'Other seaven a clapper in a bell, Other 7 to lead an ape in hell. Grandam boy, grandam boy, heye! Leg a derry, leg a merry, mett, mer, whoope, whir! Driuance, larumben, grandam boy, heye!
15	'When thou hast thy penance done, Lillumwham, lillumwham! 'When thou hast thy penance done, Whatt then? what then? 'When thou hast thy penance done, Then thoust come a mayden home.' Grandam boy, grandam boy, heye! Leg a derry, leg a merry, mett, mer, whoope, whir! Driuance, larumben, grandam boy, heye!

This page most recently updated on 05-Mar-2011, 15:57:17.
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