Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
The Knicht o Archerdale / Proud Lady Margaret (Child No. 47) - Sung by Ewan MacColl on "The English and Scottish Popular Ballads: Vol. 2—Child Ballads" (1964) Folkways FG 3510 (LP, USA, 1964).
Note by Kevin W.:
It was collected was twice in fragmentary form in Aberdeenshire around the turn of the 20th century by Gavin Greig from the prolific Mrs. Bell Robertson of New Pitsligo who knew hundreds of ballads but did not sing tunes and from a Mrs. Gordon of New Deer.
Lizzie Higgins of Aberdeen sang a more complete version she learned from her father, Donald "Donty" Higgins, a settled Traveller, who in turn had it from his mother Christine Stewart:
youtu.be/FxipakKhT8o
Liner Notes:
Child published five versions of this story of a proud lady whose brother returns from the dead to teach her humility. In four of them he appears, at first, as a suitor, is tested by riddles and does not reveal his identity until his wooing is successful. In the version given here, the riddle element is absent, the story being confined to the wooing. Stanzas 5 and 6 appear to have been borrowed from Sweet William’s Ghost (Child 77). Learned from Greig and Keith.
Song transcription:
“What is your will with me, young man?
What is your will with me?”
“My will with you, fair maid,” he said,
“Is your lover till I dee.”
“Your lover till ye dee,” she said,
“Your lover till ye dee?
I’ve slichted mony a better man
That in their graves lie green.”
“My faither was laird o’ seven castles,
My mither was lady o’ three;
An’ a’ their gowd and a’ their gear,
There’s nane to heir’t but me.”
“Gin your faither was laird o’ seven castles,
And your mither was lady o’ three;
I am William, thy brither,
That died beyond the see,
And I canna get into my grave
For the daily pride o’ thee.”
“Is there nae room at your heid, brother?
Is there nae room at your feet?
Is there nae room at your side, brother,
For a lady like me to sleep?”
“There’s nae room at my heid, sister,
There’s nae room at my feet.
There’s nae room at my side, sister,
For a lady like you to sleep.
For when I lie down into my grave
The worms around me creep.”
The Knicht o Archerdale / Proud Lady Margaret (Child No. 47) - Sung by Ewan MacColl on "The English and Scottish Popular Ballads: Vol. 2—Child Ballads" (1964) Folkways FG 3510 (LP, USA, 1964).
Note by Kevin W.:
It was collected was twice in fragmentary form in Aberdeenshire around the turn of the 20th century by Gavin Greig from the prolific Mrs. Bell Robertson of New Pitsligo who knew hundreds of ballads but did not sing tunes and from a Mrs. Gordon of New Deer.
Lizzie Higgins of Aberdeen sang a more complete version she learned from her father, Donald "Donty" Higgins, a settled Traveller, who in turn had it from his mother Christine Stewart:
youtu.be/FxipakKhT8o
Liner Notes:
Child published five versions of this story of a proud lady whose brother returns from the dead to teach her humility. In four of them he appears, at first, as a suitor, is tested by riddles and does not reveal his identity until his wooing is successful. In the version given here, the riddle element is absent, the story being confined to the wooing. Stanzas 5 and 6 appear to have been borrowed from Sweet William’s Ghost (Child 77). Learned from Greig and Keith.
Song transcription:
“What is your will with me, young man?
What is your will with me?”
“My will with you, fair maid,” he said,
“Is your lover till I dee.”
“Your lover till ye dee,” she said,
“Your lover till ye dee?
I’ve slichted mony a better man
That in their graves lie green.”
“My faither was laird o’ seven castles,
My mither was lady o’ three;
An’ a’ their gowd and a’ their gear,
There’s nane to heir’t but me.”
“Gin your faither was laird o’ seven castles,
And your mither was lady o’ three;
I am William, thy brither,
That died beyond the see,
And I canna get into my grave
For the daily pride o’ thee.”
“Is there nae room at your heid, brother?
Is there nae room at your feet?
Is there nae room at your side, brother,
For a lady like me to sleep?”
“There’s nae room at my heid, sister,
There’s nae room at my feet.
There’s nae room at my side, sister,
For a lady like you to sleep.
For when I lie down into my grave
The worms around me creep.”
