Uploaded September 2021 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
Lady Margaret / Sweet William's Ghost (Child No. 77) - Sung by Gordie Willis of Fogo Island, Newfoundland, Canada. Recorded by Prof. Kenneth S. Goldstein in July 1985.
Note by Kevin W.:
A traditional Newfoundland version of this rare ballad. Lovely performance too, with the foot stomping to the tune, I like that. The "three hell hounds", one for drunkenness, one for pride and one for deluding of a pretty fair maid seem to be a common trait of Canadian texts.
Song transcription:
Lady Marg'ret was sitting in her own home one night,
When a knock came at her door,
And she went out for to see what it was,
It was never heard anymore.
Are you the father of the king, she cried
Or are you my brother John?
Or are you my Willie, my own true love,
From Scotland lately come?
No, I'm not the father of the king, he cried
No, I'm not your brother John.
But I am Willie, your own true love,
From Scotland lately come.
Did you bring to me any gold, she cried,
Did you bring to my any ring?
Did you bring to me any token of love,
That a true love ought to bring?
No, I brought to you no gold, he cried,
No, I brought to you no ring,
But I brought to you my cold winding sheet,
What the dead do be buried in.
She took the cloak up to her knees
And she tucked it above her knee
And 'twas over the hill on a cold, frosty night,
In the dead man's company.
She followed him to the green churchyard,
Where the grass grew grassy green, (rank and green)
Saying, is this your home, or your resting place,
Or where you have lately been?
Are there any room at your head, my love,
Are there any at your feet?
Are there any room in your arms, my love,
Where I may lie and sleep?
No, my mother lies at my head, he cried,
And my father lies at my feet,
And there's three hell hounds around my graveside,
Waiting my soul for to take. (keep)
Oh, one of them is for my drunkenness, he cried,
And the other is for my pride,
And the other for deluding of a fair pretty girl, (maid)
And staying out late by night. (that should have been my bride)
She took a cross off from her bosom,
And she placed it on his breast,
Saying the lord be with you forever, my love,
And grant your soul at rest.
Oh, I thank you, I thank you, Lady Margaret, he cried,
And I thank you heartilee,
And if ever the living ought to pray for the dead,
You will always pray for me.
* the words in brackets I memorized from another similar Newfoundland text of the ballad. Perhaps they improve the ryhming a bit in those places. That's the way the song has been stuck in my head since I learned it.
Lady Margaret / Sweet William's Ghost (Child No. 77) - Sung by Gordie Willis of Fogo Island, Newfoundland, Canada. Recorded by Prof. Kenneth S. Goldstein in July 1985.
Note by Kevin W.:
A traditional Newfoundland version of this rare ballad. Lovely performance too, with the foot stomping to the tune, I like that. The "three hell hounds", one for drunkenness, one for pride and one for deluding of a pretty fair maid seem to be a common trait of Canadian texts.
Song transcription:
Lady Marg'ret was sitting in her own home one night,
When a knock came at her door,
And she went out for to see what it was,
It was never heard anymore.
Are you the father of the king, she cried
Or are you my brother John?
Or are you my Willie, my own true love,
From Scotland lately come?
No, I'm not the father of the king, he cried
No, I'm not your brother John.
But I am Willie, your own true love,
From Scotland lately come.
Did you bring to me any gold, she cried,
Did you bring to my any ring?
Did you bring to me any token of love,
That a true love ought to bring?
No, I brought to you no gold, he cried,
No, I brought to you no ring,
But I brought to you my cold winding sheet,
What the dead do be buried in.
She took the cloak up to her knees
And she tucked it above her knee
And 'twas over the hill on a cold, frosty night,
In the dead man's company.
She followed him to the green churchyard,
Where the grass grew grassy green, (rank and green)
Saying, is this your home, or your resting place,
Or where you have lately been?
Are there any room at your head, my love,
Are there any at your feet?
Are there any room in your arms, my love,
Where I may lie and sleep?
No, my mother lies at my head, he cried,
And my father lies at my feet,
And there's three hell hounds around my graveside,
Waiting my soul for to take. (keep)
Oh, one of them is for my drunkenness, he cried,
And the other is for my pride,
And the other for deluding of a fair pretty girl, (maid)
And staying out late by night. (that should have been my bride)
She took a cross off from her bosom,
And she placed it on his breast,
Saying the lord be with you forever, my love,
And grant your soul at rest.
Oh, I thank you, I thank you, Lady Margaret, he cried,
And I thank you heartilee,
And if ever the living ought to pray for the dead,
You will always pray for me.
* the words in brackets I memorized from another similar Newfoundland text of the ballad. Perhaps they improve the ryhming a bit in those places. That's the way the song has been stuck in my head since I learned it.
