Douglas Tragedy- Jemima Milne (Glas) 1908 Greig C
[The Greig-Duncan Folk Song Collection. edited by Patrick Shuldham-Shaw, Emily B Lyle and Katherine Campbell. The opening stanzas are missing. I've added some corrections and missing parts in brackets.
R. Matteson 2018]
C. The Douglas Tragedy- sung by Jemima Milne of Glasgow about in 1908. Collected by Duncan.
1. "Hold off, hold off, Lord William," she cried,
"Your strokes they are heavy and sore,
Sweethearts I may get many a one,
But a father I'll never get more."
2. "O choose, O choose, Lady Margaret," he said,
"Whether you gang or bide."
"I will go, I will go, Lord William," she said,
"Since you've left me without a guide."
3. They rode on, and farther on,
It was all by the light of the moon,
Until they cam to yon bonny river side,
It was there they both lighted doon.
4. "Hold off, hold off, Lord William," she cried,
"I fear ye hae been slain,
"O no, it's the shadow of my reed coat,
Shining in the water sae clear."
5. They rode on, and farther on,
It was all by the light o' the moon,
Until he cam to his mother's ha' door,
Twas there they both lighted doon.
6. "Rise up, mother dear,
Rise up and lat me in.
Rise up, mother dear,
This nicht my lady is won."
7. "O mother dear, mak my bed,
Ye'll mak it baith wide and deep,
Ye'll lay Lady Margaret close at my back,
That the soun'er I may sleep."
8. Lord William he died [in the middle of] the night,
Lady Margaret she died [on the] morrow,
Lord William he died for his true love,
Lady Margaret she died for sorrow.
9. Lady Margaret was buried in St. Mary's kirk,
Lord William in St. Mary's Queer [quire],
Out of the bride grew a reed reed rose,
And out of the bridegroom a briar.
10. This twa met, and this twa plait,
And fain they wad hae been near;
That a' the world micht ken richt weel
They were twa lovers dear.
11. Bye cam the Black dog [Douglas],
And O but he was worth [rough]
He pulled oot the bonny bonny brair bush,
Threw it into St. Mary's Loch.
12. They grew and grew and higher they grew,
Till they could grow no higher,
And they grew together in a true love knot,
For true lovers to admire.