Cat. #0507 (MFH #184) - As sung by Mrs. Irene Carlisle, Fayetteville, Arkansas on June 23, 1960
VERSE 1
False Lamkin was as good a mason
As ever laid stone
He built Lord Arnolds castle
Lord Arnold paid him none
VERSE 2
He built it without
An' he built it within
An' he built a false window
For 'imself t' get in
VERSE 3
Lord Arnold to his lady,
I'm a going from home
An' what would you do
If False Lamkin should come
VERSE 4
I fear not False Lamkins
Nor none of his crew
My doors, I keep fastened
My windows, pinned too
VERSE 5
Her door, she had fastened
Her windows, had pinned
When thru th false window
False Lamkins stepped in
VERSE 6
Dear mistress, dear mistress
Your baby does cry
And if you don't come to it
It surely myust die
VERSE 7
How can I come down
When it's such a dark night
And I have not a candle
To bear me a light
VERSE 8
Where's them six new lamps
Where th gold shines, so bright
You can take one of them
And come down by th light
VERSE 9
Lady Arnold scarce
Had opened th door
When she saw False Lamkins
In th middle of th floor
VERSE 10
False Lamkins, False Lamkins
O, spare me my life
An' I give you my daughter Betsy
She'll make a good wife
VERSE 11
Bring down your daughter Betsy
So neat an' so trim
An' bring a gold basin
For t' catch her blood in
VERSE 12
Daughter Betsy, daughter Betsy
Stay in th garret, so high
Till you see your dear Father
Come a sailing by
VERSE 13
Daughter Betsy, she stayed
In the garret so high
Till she saw Lord Arnolds ship
Come a sailing by
VERSE 14
Lord Arnold scarce
Had opened th gate
When he saw his dear baby
Lying dead at his feet
VERSE 15
Lord Arnold scarce
Had opened th door
When he saw his dear wife
Lying dead on th floor
VERSE 16
False Lamkin shall be hung
On a gallows, so high
And his false, shall be burnt
In an oven near by