The False Knight Upon the Road

There was a youth, and a well bred youth
He being a squire's son
And he did court an innkeeper's daughter
Belonging to North Cumberland

Go get me some of your father's gold
Part of your mother's fee
And we will away to some foreign country
And married we will be

She went down to her father's stable
There stood horses, thirty-three
And she picked out a milk-white steed
And he, the fast travelling grey

She mounted on the milk-white steed
He on the fast travelling grey
And they rode until they came to a riverside
Three hours before it was day

Alight, alight, my pretty fair maid
Alight, alight, cried he
It's six pretty maidens have I drowned-ed here
And you the seventh shall be

Take off, take off, that silken gown
And hand it over to me
For I do think your clothing is too good
For to rot in the salt, salt sea

If I do take off my silken gown
And hand it over to you
Why I do think it a very great wrong
A naked women to view

I'll take off my silken gown
I'll lay it on the green
But before that I do you false young man
You must turn your back on me

And when he turned his back around
And faced yon willow tree
With all of the strength that this poor maiden had
She shoved him into the sea

Lie there, lie there, you false young man
Lie there instead of me
It's six foolish maidens have you drowned-ed here
Go keep them good company

And as he rose, and as he sank
And as he rose cried he
Oh give me your hand, my pretty, pretty polly
My bride forever you'll be

She mounted on the milk-white steed
She led the fast travelling grey
She rode until she came to her father's house
One hour before it was day

Now the parrot was hung in the window so high
Where have you been? cried he
I've been away to Scotland's bridge
Young Henry, he lies under the sea

Don't prittle, Don't prattle, my pretty, pretty polly
Don't tell no tales on me
And you shall have a cage of the very finest gold
And be hung on an ivory tree