The Maid and the Palmer

Oh, the maid went down to the well for to wash
And the dew fell down from her snow-white flesh
The dew fell down from her snow-white flesh
As the sun shone down so early

And as she washed, as she wrung
She hung them out on the hazel wand
She hung them out on the hazel wand
And by there came a palmer man

Oh, God speed you, Old Man, she cries
God speed you, you pretty fair maid
God speed you, you pretty fair maid
As the sun shines down so early

Have you got a cup, have you got a can?
Can you give a drink to a palmer-man?
Can you give a drink to a palmer-man?
As the sun shines down so early

Oh, I've no cup and I've no can
And I cannot give a drink to a palmer-man
And I cannot give a drink to a palmer-man
As the sun shines down so early

You lie, you lie, you are forsworn
For if your truelove came from Rome
Then a cup, a can you'd find for him
As the sun shines down so early

Now, she swore by God and the good St. John
Truelover she had never a one
Truelover she had never a one
As the sun shines down so early

You lie, you lie, you are forsworn
For nine children you have born
For nine children you have born
As the sun shines down so early

Oh, there's three of them lying under your bed-head
Three of them under the hearth are laid
Three of them under the hearth are laid
As the sun shines down so early

Three more laying on yonder green
Count, fair maid, for that makes nine
Count, fair maid, for that makes nine
As the sun shines down so early

Palmer, oh, Palmer, do tell me
Penance that you will give to me
Penance that you will give to me
As the sun shines down so early

Penance I will give thee none
But seven years as a stepping stone
But seven years as a stepping stone
As the sun shines down so early

Seven more as a clapper to ring in the bell
Seven to run from the apes of hell
Seven to run from the apes of hell
As the sun shines down so early

Welcome, welcome stepping stone
Welcome clapper in the bell to ring
Welcome clapper in the bell to ring
As the sun shines down so early

Welcome stone, welcome bell
Christ, keep me from the apes of hell
Christ, keep me from the apes of hell
As the sun shines down so early