Willy O' Winsbury Songtext
von Sweeney's Men

The king, he has been a poor pris′ner
A pris'ner lang in Spain
And Willie o′ the Winsbury
Has lain lang wi' his daughter at hame

"What troubles you, my daughter dear?
You look so pale and wan
Oh have you had any sore sickness
Or yet been sleepin' wi′ a man?"

"I have not had any sore sickness
Nor yet been sleepin′ wi' a man
It is for you, my father dear
For bidin′ so lang in Spain"

"Cast off, cast off your berry-brown gown
Stand naked upon a stane
That I may ken you by your shape
Whether you be a maiden or nane"


So she's cast off her berry-brown gown
Stood naked upon a stane
Her haunches were round and her apron was short
Her cheeks, they were pale and wan

"Oh is he a lord or a duke or a knight
Or a man o′ birth or fame?
Or is he one of my serving men
That's lately come out of Spain?"

"He is nay a lord nor a duke or a knight
Nor a man of birth nor fame
But he is Willie of Winsbury
I could bide nay langer my lane"

The king has sent for his merry men all
His merry men thirty and three
Says, "Bring me Willie of Winsbury
For hangèd he shall be"

But when he came the king before
He was clad in the red silk
His hair was like the strands of gold
His cheeks were as white as milk


"It is nay a wonder," says the king
"My daughter′s love you did win
Had I been 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?
And will you marry my daughter Janet
And be a lord o' the land?"

"I will marry your daughter Janet
By the truth of my right hand
And I will marry you daughter Janet
But I won't be a lord of the land"

He′s mounted her on a milk-white steed
Himself on a dapple-grey
And he′s made her a lady of as much land
As she could ride in the lang summer's day