Mistletoe Bough

[Verse 1]
The mistletoe hung in the old castle hall
The holly branch shone on the old oak wall
The baron's retainers were blithe and were gay
A-keeping their Christmas holiday
The baron beheld with a father's pride
His beautiful child, young Lovell's bride
She with the bright eyes was destined to be
The star of the goodly company

[Chorus]
Oh, the mistletoe bough
Oh, the mistletoe bough

[Verse 2]
"I'm weary of dancing, of dancing," she cried
"Here tarry a moment, I'll hide, I'll hide
And Lovell, be sure you're the first one to trace
The clue to my secret hiding place"
Away then she ran and their friends all began
Each tower to search and each stairway to scan
Lovell he cried, "Oh, now where does thou hide
I'm lonely without thee, my own dear bride"

[Chorus]
Oh, the mistletoe bough
Oh, the mistletoe bough
Oh, the mistletoe bough
Oh, the mistletoe bough

[Instrumental Break]

[Verse 3]
They searched all the night and they searched the next day
They searched all around till a week went away
In the highest and lowest, the lonesomest spot
Young Lovell sought wildly but found her not
And as years went by so did grief then at last
Now told as a sorrowful tale long past
When Lovell appears all the children they cry
"See the old man weeps for his fairy bride"

[Chorus]
Oh, the mistletoe bough
Oh, the mistletoe bough
Oh, the mistletoe bough
Oh, the mistletoe bough

[Verse 4]
At length an old chest that had long been lain hid
Was found in the castle, they raised up the lid
A skeleton form lay a-mouldering there
In a bridal wreath of a lady so fair
Oh, sad was her fate that in playfullest jest
She hid from her lord in an old oak chest
That closed with a spring and that new bridal bloom
Lay withering there in a lonely tomb

[Chorus]
Oh, the mistletoe bough
Oh, the mistletoe bough
Oh, the mistletoe bough
Oh, the mistletoe bough

[Outro]
Oh, the mistletoe bough
Oh, the mistletoe bough