Lady Jean Word is up to the lord's fair daughter And word is spreading all over the land That she's been betrayed by her own dear brother And he has chosen another's fair hand Many a man had sung of her beauty And many a bold deed for her had been done. But within her sides she carries the child. Of her father's eldest fairest son Tell me no lies, I'll hear no more stories. But saddle my horse and I'll go and see. My own true love and if these words prove true ones They will be the end of me Brother, o brother, what lies be these ones They say that thy love to another I'll lose I carry a babe of thy own proud lineage And I know that it's I that thou wouldst choose Hast thou told our mother or father All that thou hast said unto me. And he's taken off his good beaten sword. Hanging down by his left knee No, I've not told no one but thee love For it is a secret between me and thee I would come home and quit all my roaming And spend my days in waiting on thee Too late, too late for words, my sister Father has chosen for me a fair bride And he's stabbed her easy and lovingly laid her Down in her grave by the black water side And then he's gone home to his wedding And his father's asked him why weepest thou so Such a bride I've seen on this bright spring morning Never another man shall know Child #52 AJS
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!