Sweet William- Martin (KS-AR) 1958 O'Bryant
[From: O'Bryant, Folksongs & Ballads (in Koch, Kansas Folklore) pp.162-165. Her notes follow.
R. Matteson 2014]
FAIR MARGARET AND SWEET WILLIAM
(CHILD 74)
[Collected from Mrs. Florence Martin, Pittsburg, Kansas, August, 1958. Mrs. Martin grew up near Berry ville, Arkansas, where she learned the song from her mother, who called it a "real old-time love song." This ballad, which Mrs. Martin knew under the title of "Sweet William and Lady Margaret," seems to be well known in America. Child, II, 199, remarks that it was "a favorite of the stalls," which might account for its popularity. The rose-and-briar ending, which is usually considered a standard feature of the ballad, is missing in the Kansas version. For some other American texts see Belden, pp. 48-52; Randolph, I, 108-112; and The Frank C. Brown Collection of North Carolina Folklore, II, 79-84.]
Sweet William he rose one morning in June,
He dressed himself in blue.
Pray tell to me the love, love, love
That's between Lady Margaret and me.
I know not a thing about Lady Margaret's love,
I'm sure she don't love me,
But tomorrow morning at eight o'clock
Lady Margaret my bride shall see.
Lady Margaret was standing in her own hall door
Combing her silken hair,
When she spied sweet William and his bride
As to the church drew nigh.
She threw away her ivory comb,
Back her silken hair.
Lady Margaret went into her room
Never more to return.
The day being gone and the night coming on
When all men were asleep,
Sweet William dreamed he saw Lady Margaret
Standing at his bed feet.
Saying, how do you like your bed, kind sir,
And how do you like your sheet?
And how do you like your new wedded wife,
Who is lying in your arms asleep?
Very well, very well do I like my bed,
Very well do I like my sheet.
Much better do I like that fair, pretty girl,
That is standing at my bed feet.
Night being gone and day coming on
When all men were awake,
Sweet William arose and said there was trouble in his head
From the dream that he dreamed last night.
He dreamed his room was full of wild swine
And his love was swimming in blood.
Then he called up his merry mates all,
Called them one, two, three,
And then he asked leave of his wife
Lady Margaret to go and see.
He rode 'till he came to Lady Margaret's hall,
He rapped so loud at the ring.
There was none so ready as Lady Margaret's brother
To rise and let him in.
Is Lady Margaret out at church today,
Or is she in the hall?
Or is she in the dining room,
Among those merry ladies all?
Lady Margaret is neither at church today,
Neither in the hall.
Lady Margaret is in her cold coffin,
Laid out against the wall.
Pull down, pull down those Ireland[1] sheets
Made of linen so fine.
Let me once kiss those clay cold lips
That so often have kissed mine.
Then he kissed her on the chin,
Then all on the cheek,
Then he kissed the clay cold lips
That so often had kissed him.
Fold up, fold up those Ireland sheets,
Made of linen so fine.
Today you weep over Lady Margaret's coffin,
Tomorrow you'll weep over mine.
1. Holland