Willie and Mary- A. S. White (ON) 1900 Gordon
[From magazine article "Old Songs that men have sung" by Robert Gordon c. 1925. Reprinted in Folk Music: A Regional Exploration by Norm Cohen.
R. Matteson 2016]
Willie and Mary- Sung by Mr. A.S. White of Ontario. Learned from lumberjacks about 1900.
"Wake awake! you drowsy sleeper,
Wake and listen to me!
There's someone at your bedroom window,
A-weeping there, so bitterly."
"O who is at my bedroom (window)
A-weeping there, so bitterly."
"O it is I, your dearest Willie,
A-weeping there, so bitterly."
"Oh, Mary dear, go and ask your mother
If you my wedded bride might be;
If she says 'No,' then come and tell me,
And I'll no longer trouble thee."
"Oh, Willie dear, I dare not ask her
"If I your wedded bride might be,
But go and court some other lady
Who yet your bride might be."
"Then, Mary dear, go and ask your father
If you my wedded bride might be;
If he says, 'No,' then come and tell me,
And I'll no longer trouble thee."
"Oh, Willie dear, I dare not ask him
If I your wedded bride might be,
For by his side lies a silver dagger
To pierce the heart so true to me."
"I can climb the highest tree, love[1],
I can rob the richest nest,
I can court the gayest lady,
But not the one that I love best!"
Then Willie seized a shining dagger,
Pierced it through his manly heart.
Saying, "Farewell, Mary, farewell, Mary,
It's here we both shall never part."
Then Mary seized the silver dagger,
Pierced it through her lily-white breast,
"Farewell father, farewell mother,
It's here we both shall rest."
1. This stanza has also appeared in UK versions of the ballad.