Long Lankin Songtext
von Steeleye Span

Said the Lord unto his Lady as he rode over the moss
"Beware of Long Lankin that lives amongst the gorse
Beware the moss, beware the moor, beware of Long Lankin
Be sure the doors are bolted well
Lest Lankin should creep in"

Said the Lord unto his Lady as he rode away
"Beware of Long Lankin that lives amongst the hay
Beware the moss, beware the moor, beware of Long Lankin
Be sure the doors are bolted well
Lest Lankin should creep in"

"Where′s the master of the house?", says Long Lankin
"He's ′way to London", says the nurse to him
"Where's the lady of the house?", says Long Lankin
"She's up in her chamber", says the nurse to him
"Where′s the baby of the house?", says Long Lankin
"He′s asleep in the cradle", says the nurse to him


"We will pinch him, we will prick him
We will stab him with a pin
And the nurse shall hold the basin
For the blood all to run in"

So they pinched him and they pricked him
Then they stabbed him with a pin
And the false nurse held the basin
For the blood all to run in

"Lady, come down the stairs," says Long Lankin
"How can I see in the dark?", she says unto him
"You have silver mantles", says Long Lankin
"Lady, come down the stairs by the light of them"
Down the stairs the lady came, thinking no harm
Lankin, he stood ready to catch her in his arms

There was blood all in the kitchen
There was blood all in the hall
There was blood all in the parlor
Where my lady she did fall

Now Long Lankin shall be hanged
From the gallows, oh, so high
And the false nurse shall be burned
In the fire close by


Said the Lord unto his Lady as he rode over the moss
"Beware of Long Lankin that lives amongst the gorse
Beware the moss, beware the moor, beware of Long Lankin
Make sure the doors are bolted well
Lest Lankin should creep in"