An adaptation (as many Steeleye Span songs are) of a folk ballad from the British Isles; in this case, “The Daemon Lover,” a traditional Scottish song of numerous variations first anthologized in the latter half of the 19th century.
Where have you been, my long lost love
This seven long years and more?
Seeking gold for thee my love
And riches of great store
I might have married a king's daughter
Far far beyond the sea
But I refused the golden crown
All for the love of thee
What have you to keep me with
If I with you should go?
If I forsake my husband dear
And my young son also
I'll show you where the white lilies grow
On the banks of Italy
I'll show you where the white fishes swim
At the bottom of the sea
Seven ships all on the sea
The eighth brought me to land
With four and twenty mariners
And music on every hand
She set her foot upon the ship
No mariners could behold
The sails were of the shining silk
The masts of beaten gold
I'll show you where the white lilies grow
On the banks of Italy
I'll show you where the white fishes swim
At the bottom of the sea
Seven ships all on the sea
The eighth brought me to land
With four and twenty mariners
And music on every hand
Oh what are you high hills
The sun shines sweetly in
Those are the hills of heaven my love
Where you will never win
I'll show you where the white lilies grow
On the banks of Italy
I'll show you where the white fishes swim
At the bottom of the sea
Seven ships all on the sea
The eighth brought me to land
With four and twenty mariners
And music on every hand
What is that mountain yonder there
Where evil winds do blow
Yonder's the mountain of hell he cried
Where you and I must go
He took her up to the top mast high
To see what he could see
He sunk the ship in a flash of fire
To the bottom of the sea
Demon Lover was written by Bob Johnson & Maddy Prior & Peter Knight & Rick Kemp & Traditional & Tim Hart (Steeleye Span).
Demon Lover was produced by Robin Black & Steeleye Span.