Douglas Tragedy- Annie Shirer (Aber) 1907 Greig I
[From: The Greig-Duncan Folk Song Collection, edited by Patrick Shuldham-Shaw, Emily B. Lyle and Katherine Campbell.
R. Matteson 2018]
I. The Douglas Tragedy- sung by Annie Shirer (b. 1873, d. 1915) of Kininmouth, Aberdeenshire in 1907. Collected by Greig.
1. "Stand up, stand up, ye seven sons sae bold,
And stand to your arms unco clear,
And you'll take better care of your youngest sister,
For your eldest's away I fear."
2. Lord William looked over his right shoulder,
To see what he could spy,
And there he spied her seven sons sae bold,
With their father all to command.
3. Lord William looked over his left shoulder,
To see what he could spy,
And there he spied Lady Margaret,
A-standing a little out-by.
4. "Come down, come down, Lady Margret," he cried,
"Hold my steed in your hand,
Till I go fight with your seven brothers bold,
Your father and all to command."
6. Lady Margaret she came down
Held his steed in her hand,
And never yet shed one tear,
Until that she saw her seven bold brothers fall,
And her father still fighting severe.
6. "Hold off, hold off, Lord William," she cried,
"For your strokes are wondrous sore,
Sweethearts many a one I can find,
But a father I'll never find more."
7. "Will ye go, will ye go, Lady Margaret," he cried,
"Do you choose to go or bide?"
"I'll go, I'll go Lord William," she cried,
"For you've left me no other guide."
8. He mounted her on his milk-white steed,
Himself on a dapple grey,
Wi' a pair o pistols hanging doon by his side,
And sae slowly they all rode away.
9. It's they rode on, and farther on,
Twas all by the light of the moon,
Until they came to yon river sae clear,
And 'twas there they lighted down.
10. They alighted doon for to have a drink,
It was out of the water clear,
It was there that she saw his heart's blood drop down,
It was then she began to fear.
11. "Hold up, hold up, Lord William," she cried,
"I'm afraid that ye are slain,
"It's only the colour of my scarlet coat,
That's shining in the stream."
12. He mounted her on his milk-white steed,
Himself on his dapple grey,
Wi' a bugle horn hanging doon by his side,
And sae slowly they all rode away.
13. It's they rode on, and farther on,
Twas all by the light of the moon,
Until they came to his poor mother's door,
And 'twas there they alighted doon.
14. "Arise, arise, dear mother," he cried
"Arise and let us in.
"Arise, arise, dear mother," he cried
"For this nicht my true love I've win."
15. "Ye'll mak my bed baith lang and braid
"And mak it soft and deep,
And lay my true love doon by my side,
And sae soundly as we will sleep."
16. Lord William died in the middle o' the night,
Lady Margaret died on the morrow,
Lord William died for Lady Margaret's sake,
Lady Margaret died from sorrow.
17. Lord William was buried in St. Mary's churchyard,
Lady Margaret in St. George's choir,
And out of Lord William's breast there grew a red red rose,
And out of Lady Margaret's a sweet briar.
18. It's they grew on and farther on,
Until they reached another fu' near,
And all that passed within their reach,
Would have known they'd been lovers dear.