Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Has a friend or loved one who’s passed away ever visited you in a dream?
What was it like? Did they have something they needed to tell you?
This Appalachian ballad, which has origins in England, is one of many traditional songs that show us that the dead can visit when something is unresolved. There are many ways to interpret why Margaret appears to William, but I think she wants one more conversation with him to express her anger, be validated by his love for her, and, frankly, to get a dig in at his new wife.
The dead often visit us in much less dire circumstances than what takes place in this song, but ballads like this do connect us to folk knowledge about communication with the dead that goes back hundreds and hundreds of years. If you want to explore more songs and wisdom about the dead, grieving, and the afterlife from Scottish and English traditions, you can join me for my virtual c o u r s e “The Unquiet Grave” starting in early October! Get all the details by going to the top left hand lynk on my channel page.
I learned this version of “Lady Margaret” from Sheila Kay Adams, with the last "blood" verse being from Jean Ritchie.
Lyrics (these are just a few verses of the entire story)
It was late all in the night
They were fast asleep
Little Margaret appeared all dressed in white
Standing at their bed feet
Saying, “How do you like your snow white pillows?
How do you like your sheets?
And how do you like that pretty fair miss
Who’s laying in your arms asleep?”
“It’s well I like these snow white pillows
Well I like these sheets
Fair better I love that pretty fair maid
Who stands at my bed feet”
“Last night I dreamed a terrible dream
Such dreams they are no good
For I dreamed my hall was filled with wild swine
And my true love swimming in blood
Has a friend or loved one who’s passed away ever visited you in a dream?
What was it like? Did they have something they needed to tell you?
This Appalachian ballad, which has origins in England, is one of many traditional songs that show us that the dead can visit when something is unresolved. There are many ways to interpret why Margaret appears to William, but I think she wants one more conversation with him to express her anger, be validated by his love for her, and, frankly, to get a dig in at his new wife.
The dead often visit us in much less dire circumstances than what takes place in this song, but ballads like this do connect us to folk knowledge about communication with the dead that goes back hundreds and hundreds of years. If you want to explore more songs and wisdom about the dead, grieving, and the afterlife from Scottish and English traditions, you can join me for my virtual c o u r s e “The Unquiet Grave” starting in early October! Get all the details by going to the top left hand lynk on my channel page.
I learned this version of “Lady Margaret” from Sheila Kay Adams, with the last "blood" verse being from Jean Ritchie.
Lyrics (these are just a few verses of the entire story)
It was late all in the night
They were fast asleep
Little Margaret appeared all dressed in white
Standing at their bed feet
Saying, “How do you like your snow white pillows?
How do you like your sheets?
And how do you like that pretty fair miss
Who’s laying in your arms asleep?”
“It’s well I like these snow white pillows
Well I like these sheets
Fair better I love that pretty fair maid
Who stands at my bed feet”
“Last night I dreamed a terrible dream
Such dreams they are no good
For I dreamed my hall was filled with wild swine
And my true love swimming in blood
