Douglas Tragedy- J.W. Spence (Aber) 1907 Greig A
[From the Greig/Duncan Collection edited by Patrick Shuldham-Shaw, Emily B Lyle and Katherine Campbell. Inconsistent dialect. See also Keith's text (Last Leaves).
R. Matteson 2018]
A. The Douglas Tragedy- sung by J.W. Spence of Fyvie, Aberdeenshire in 1907. Collected by Greig.
1. "Rise up, rise up, Lord Douglas," she says
And put on your armour so bright,
Let it never be said that a sister of yours
Was married to a lord in the night."
2. "Rise up, rise up, my sons sae bold,
And put on your armour so bright,
An' take better care o' your youngest sister,
For your eldest awa' the last night."
3. He's mounted her on a milk-white steed,
Himsel' on a dapple grey,
With a bright horn hanging down by his side,
And sae lightly they both rode away.
4. Lord William looked over his broad shoulder,
To see what he could see,
And there he spied her seven brothers bold,
Come riding over the lea.
5. "Light down, light down, Lady Margret," he says,
"And hold my steed in your hand,
Until that against your seven brothers bold,
And your father, I mak a stand."
6. She held his steed in her milk-white hand,
And never shed one tear,
Until that she saw her seven brothers fa',
And her father still fighting near[1].
7. "Oh hold your hand, Lord William," she said,
"For your strokes they are wondrous sore,
True lovers I can get many a one,
But a father I'll never get more."
8. "Oh choose, O choose, Lady Margret," said he,
"Choose for to gang or to bide.
"I'll gang with you Lord William," she said,
"For ye've left me no other guide."
9. He's mounted her on a milk-white steed,
And himself on the dapple grey,
With a bugle horn hanging down by his side,
And slowly they both rode away.
10. They rode on, and on they rode,
Twas all by the light of the moon,
Until they came to yon bonnie burnie side,
And there they both lighted down.
11. They lighted down to take a drink,
Of the water that ran there sae clear,
And down the stream ran his heart blood,
And sair she began to fear.
12. "Hold up, hold up, Lord William," she said,
"For fear that ye are slain,
"'Tis nothing but the shadow of my scarlet coat,
That shines in the water sae plain."
13. They rode on, and on they rode,
Twas all by the light of the moon,
Until they came to his mother's ha' door,
And there they both lighted doon.
14. "Rise up, rise up, lady mother," he said
"Oh rise and let us in.
"Rise up, rise up, lady mother," he said,
'For this night my fair lady I've won."
15. "Ye'll mak my bed baith lang an wide
"And ye'll mak it baith saft and deep,
And lay my true love doon by my side,
That the sounder we may sleep."
16. Lord William he died in the middle of the night,
Lady Margaret she died on the morrow,
Lord William he died for the sake of his bride,
Lady Margaret she died of sorrow.
17. Lord William was buried in St. Mary's kirkyard,
Lady Margaret in St. Mary's quire,
And on the one there grew a bonnie myrtle tree,
And on the other a bonnie sweet- briar.
18. 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.
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1. Lyle edition has "near by."