False Lamkin

Cat. #0303 (MFH #184) - As sung by Jane Robinson, Fayetteville, Arkansas on December 17, 1958

VERSE 1
Said, th Lord to his Lady
As he rode away from home
Beware of False Lamkin
For he'll do you much harm

VERSE 2
What care I for False Lamkin
Or none of his kin
When th doors are all bolted
And th windows close pinned

VERSE 3
At th back kitchen window
False Lamkin crept in
And he pricked one of the elder babes
With a bright silver pin

VERSE 4
O nurse maid, o nurse maid
How soundly you sleep
Can't you hear one of the elder babes
A try'n to weep

VERSE 5
How durst I go down
In th dead of th night
Where there's no fire akindled
No candle alight

VERSE 6
As she was a goin' down
Thinkin' of no harm
False Lamkin, he caught her
Right tight in his arms

VERSE 7
O spare my life, o spare my life
My life that's so sweet
You shall have as many guienies
As stones in th street

VERSE 8
O spare my life, o spare my life
Till one of th clock
You shall have my daughter, Betsy
Th fairest of th flock

VERSE 9
Fetch me your daughter, Betsy
She'll do me some good
She shall hold th silver basin
To ketch her own hearts blood

VERSE 10
Pretty Betsy bein' up
At th window so high
Saw her own dearest Father
Come a ridin' close by

VERSE 11
O Father, dearest Father
O, blame not of me
For it was False Lamkin
Killed baby and me

VERSE 12
There's blood in th kitchen
There's blood in th hall
There's blood in th parlor
Where th lady did fall

VERSE 13
False Lamkin shall be hung
From th gallows, so high
While his bones, they are burning
In th fire close by

Variants