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