King Henry Songtext
von Martin Carthy

Let never the man a-wooing ride
E′er forget things three
A routh of gold, a heart of love
Full of charity

For it happened to King Henry
As a-hunting he did ride
Ta'en his hawk his good greyhound
Running loud down by his side

He′s chased the roe deer him before
He's chased the buck all down to his den
And the fattest deer in all the flock
Young King Henry he has slain

King Henry he ate of the venison
The dogs ate of the blood
They lay down they fell asleep
Asleep as they were dead


It fell about the midnight hour
The hour when all men lay asleep
Such chill winds blew around the house
The very trees they did weep

Great shakings sthe house about
Shakings split the door
The foulest woman that e'er there was
Came a-stamping on the floor

Her head hit the roof of the hunting lodge
Her waist her waist you could hardly span
If a fouler woman lived
She was not known to God or man

Oh meat meat ye king an′t be
Meat give thou to me
What meat′s there i' the house lady
That you′re not welcome to

So she has ta'en his good brown steed
And oh but oh his heart was sore
She′s ate it up both skin and bone
Left nothing but hide and hair


Oh more meat ye king an't be
More meat give thou to me
What meat′s there i' the house lady
That you're not welcome to

So she has ta′en his gay goshawk
And oh but oh his heart was sore
She′s ate it up all skin and bone
Left nothing but feathers bare

Oh more meat ye king an't be
More meat give thou me
What meat′s there i' the house lady
That you′re not welcome to

So she has ta'en his good greyhound
And oh but oh his heart was sore
She′s ate it up both skin and bone
Left nothing but hide and hair

Oh drink drink ye king an't be
Drink give thou to me
What drink's there i′ the house lady
That you′re not welcome to

So he's sewn up his horse′s hide
And wine and good wine he has put in
She drank it up she drank it down
There was no drop left in

A bed a bed ye king an't be
A bed for you and me
I do vow and I do swear
Tonight to lie down with thee

Oh take your boots off O King Henry
And let all your clothes fall
For you and I will in one bed lie
And I′ll lie next to the wall

The night was gone the day was come
The sun shone through the hall
The fairest woman that e'er there was
Lay twixt him and the wall

Oh what is this cries young King Henry
How long will this last with me
And there up spoke the fair young lady
Even till the day you dead be

For I′ve met many's the gentleman
Who gave to me all my fill
Ne'er met I such a gentleman
Who gave to me all my will

For I′ve met many′s the gentleman, sir
Who gave to me all my fill
Ne'er met I such a gentleman
Who gave to me all my will

"Now King Henry, you courteous knight,
Your horse′s hide you'll bring."
And o′er it she has raised her hand
And lively he did spring.

"And likewise bring your hounds their skins
And your hawks their feathers bare."
And soon the hounds they leapt about
And the hawks flew in the air.

Then Henry he has mounted up,
Put his lady on before.
And straightway to the church they rode
To keep the oath he swore.

And they rode on into the town
From out the wild woods green.
And the people clammered all around
To see their strange new queen.