Willy o’ Winsbury Songtext
von John Renbourn

The king has been a prisoner
And a prisoner long in Spain
And Willy o′ the Winsbury
Has laid long with his daughter at home

"What ails thee, what ails thee my daughter Janet?
Well, you look so pale and worn
Oh have you had any sore sickness
Or yet been sleeping with a man?"

"I have not had any sore sickness
Nor yet been sleeping with a man
It is for you my father dear
For biding so long in Spain"

"Cast off, cast off your berry-brown gown
You stand naked upon the stone
That I may know you by your shape
Whether you be a maiden or no"


And she's cast off her berry-brown gown
She stood naked upon the stone
And her apron was low and her haunches were round
And her face was pale and worn

"Oh was it with a lord or a duke or a knight
Or a man of birth and fame?
Or was it with one of me serving men
That′s lately come out of Spain?"

"No it wasn't with a lord or a duke or a knight
Or a man of birth and fame
It was with Willy of Winsbury
I could bide no longer alone"

And the king has called on his merry men all
By thirty and by three
Saying, "Fetch me this Willy of Winsbury
For hangèd he shall be"

And when he came the king before
He was clad all in the red silk
His hair was like the strands of gold
And his skin was as white as the milk


"And it is no wonder," said the king
"That my daughter's love you did win
If I was a woman as I am a man
My bedfellow you would have been

"And will you marry my daughter Janet
By the truth of your right hand?
Oh will you marry my daughter Janet
I will make you the lord of my land"

"Yes, I will marry your daughter Janet
By the truth of my right hand
Yes, I will marry your daughter Janet
But I′ll not be the lord of your land"

And he′s mounted her on a milk-white steed
And himself on a dapple-grey
And he's made her the lady of as much land
As she′ll ride on a long summer's day