Willie O' Winsbury Songtext
von Nathan Rogers

The king has been a prisoner
And a pris′ner long in Spain
Willie of the Winsbury
Has long lain with his daughter at home

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

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

"Cast off, cast off your berry-brown gown
Stand naked on the stone
That I may know you by your shape
If you be a maiden or no"


So she cast off her berry-brown gown
She stood naked on the stone
Her apron was low and her haunches were round
And her face was pale and wan

"Oh was it with a lord or a duke or knight
Or a man of birth and fame?
Or was it with one of my servingmen
So lately returnin′ from Spain?"

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

The king has called on his merrymen all
By thirty and by three
Sayin', "Fetch me this Willie o′ Winsbury
That hangèd he may be"

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


"It is no wonder," said the king
"That my daughter′s heart you did win
For if I was a woman as I am a man
My bedfellow you would have been

"Now will you marry my daughter Janet
By the truth of your right hand?
Oh will you marry my daughter Janet?
I'll make you a lord in my land"

"Why yes, I will marry your daughter Janet
By the truth of my right hand
Oh yes, I will marry your daughter Janet
But I′ll not be a lord in your land"

Now he's mounted her on a milk-white steed
Himself a dapple-grey
He′s made her the lady of as much land
She should ride in a long summer's day

He′s made her the lady of as much land
She will ride in a long summer's day
He has made her the lady of as much land
As she shall ride in a long summer's day