Mary Hamilton

Cat. #1526 (MFH #422) - As sung by Julie O'Rielly, Springfield, Missouri on March 20, 1975

VERSE 1
Well, word is to th kitchen, gone
And word is to th hall
Now an' word is off to Madam th Queen
An' that's th worst of all
That Mary Hamilton --- of ---
To th highest Stewart of all

VERSE 2
Arise, arise, Mary Hamilton
Arise an' tell to me
What thou has't done with thy wee babe
I saw an' hear weep by thee

VERSE 3
I put him in a tiny boat
An' cast him out to sea
That he might sink or he might swim
But he never come back to me

VERSE 4
Arise, arise Mary Hamilton
Arise an' come with me
There is a wedding in Glasgow town
This night we'll go an' see

VERSE 5
Well, she put not on her robe of black
Nor her robe of brown
But she put on her robe of white
To ride into Glasgow town

VERSE 6
An' as she rode into Glasgow town
To see fore, to see
Th Baliff's wife an' th Courter's wife
Ask for thee

VERSE 7
Ah ye, need not weep for me, she cried
Ah ye, need not weep for me
For have I not slain my only babe
His death I would not dee

VERSE 8
Last night I washed th Queen's feet
An' put th gold in 'er hair
An' my only reward I pine for this
Th gallow to be my share

VERSE 9
Cast off, cast off, my gown, she cried
An' let my --- see
An' tie a kerchief around head
For th gallows I would not see

VERSE 10
Then by, then come th King himself
Looked up with a pityful eye
Come down, come down, Mary Hamilton
An' you will dine this dee

VERSE 11
O, hold your tongue my Soverign ---
An' let your folly be
For if you amind to save my life
It never has shamed t' me

VERSE 12
Last night, there were four Mary's
Tonight there'll be but three
There was Mary Seaton an' Mary Breeton
An' Mary Carmichel an' me

Variants