Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
I love singing this one! Maiden in the Moor Lay (or …“In The Wood Lay” in some versions) is a 14th century song, the lyrics of which have been found in England and Ireland. Originally in Middle English, here I’m singing the song in more modern English, and I’ve added my own tune, since the tune is lost to time.
This mysterious song is full of rich imagery that evokes folk magic, devotion, and asceticism. A maiden lies in a moor for seven nights. Her only food is the violet and the primrose, and her bed is made of roses and lilies (this verse is not included in my recording here). She drinks from the water of a nearby well. The flowers of the song could evoke many meanings depending on the time period and local culture- collectively, they may be allusions to death, loyalty and passionate love. If nothing else, they tell us this scene is taking place in the spring or summer. Some scholars theorize the song may be an allusion to Anglo-Saxon well-wakes, devotional acts that took place at wells that were outlawed under Christendom. Others think she might be performing a spell of some kind. What we do know is that at the time the song was popular, church members considered it to be a secular song- an Irish bishop even tried to rewrite the song as a latin hymn to the nativity.
The feel of the song is just my interpretation. This song was referred to as a “karole” which makes it likely that it was a dance song- and it could have had a much more cheerful tune!
What do you think this song is about?
Lyrics:
Maiden in the moor lay,
In the moor lay,
Seven-night full,
Seven-night full—
Maiden in the moor lay,
In the moor lay,
Seven-night full and a day.
Well was her meat
What was her meat?
The primrose and the—
The primrose and the—
Well was her meat
What was her meat?
The primrose and the loyal violet
Well was her drink
What was her drink?
The water of the—
The water of the—
Well was her drink
What was her drink?
The water of the cold well-spring
I love singing this one! Maiden in the Moor Lay (or …“In The Wood Lay” in some versions) is a 14th century song, the lyrics of which have been found in England and Ireland. Originally in Middle English, here I’m singing the song in more modern English, and I’ve added my own tune, since the tune is lost to time.
This mysterious song is full of rich imagery that evokes folk magic, devotion, and asceticism. A maiden lies in a moor for seven nights. Her only food is the violet and the primrose, and her bed is made of roses and lilies (this verse is not included in my recording here). She drinks from the water of a nearby well. The flowers of the song could evoke many meanings depending on the time period and local culture- collectively, they may be allusions to death, loyalty and passionate love. If nothing else, they tell us this scene is taking place in the spring or summer. Some scholars theorize the song may be an allusion to Anglo-Saxon well-wakes, devotional acts that took place at wells that were outlawed under Christendom. Others think she might be performing a spell of some kind. What we do know is that at the time the song was popular, church members considered it to be a secular song- an Irish bishop even tried to rewrite the song as a latin hymn to the nativity.
The feel of the song is just my interpretation. This song was referred to as a “karole” which makes it likely that it was a dance song- and it could have had a much more cheerful tune!
What do you think this song is about?
Lyrics:
Maiden in the moor lay,
In the moor lay,
Seven-night full,
Seven-night full—
Maiden in the moor lay,
In the moor lay,
Seven-night full and a day.
Well was her meat
What was her meat?
The primrose and the—
The primrose and the—
Well was her meat
What was her meat?
The primrose and the loyal violet
Well was her drink
What was her drink?
The water of the—
The water of the—
Well was her drink
What was her drink?
The water of the cold well-spring
