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Sir Patrick Spens (2)

from 52 Folk Songs: Blue by Phil Edwards

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Child 58

lyrics

The King sits in Dunfermline town,
Drinking at the wine
And he has called for the finest skipper
In Fife or all the land.

Then up and spoke an old man
Sat at the King's right knee:
"Sir Patrick Spens is the finest sailor
That ever sailed the sea."

The King has written a broad letter,
And sealed it with his hand,
And sent it to Sir Patrick Spens,
Walking on Leith strand.

"To Norrowa, to Norrowa,
To Norrowa o'er the foam;
The King's own daughter of Norowa,
'Tis you shall bring her home."

They had not been in Norrowa
Weeks but barely three
When all the lords of Norrowa
Began to speak so free

They said, "These outland Scots drink our good King's gold,
They swallow our Queen's fee."
Now woe be to the tongue that told
Such a fearful lie.

"Now how can this be?" said Sir Patrick Spens,
"I pray you, tell it unto me,
When the bows of our ship are wrought in gold,
And we've ten chests of bright money.

"But take heed, take heed, my good men all,
Mind that you be forewarned,
For cometh wind or cometh hail
Our ship, she sails in the morn."

Then up there spoke a weatherman,
Saying "I fear we shall all be drowned,
For late yest'reen I saw the new moon
With the old moon in her arms."

They had not sailed a league, a league,
A league but barely one,
When the bows of that good ship did crack
And the salt sea did rush in.

And loth, loth were those good Scots lords
To wet their cork-heeled shoes
But before the race was halfway run
They'd wet their hats also.

And many was the feather-bed
That fluttered on the foam;
And many was the good lord's son
That never more came home.

And it's long, long may the ladies sit
With their fans all in their hands
Before they see young Sir Patrick Spens
Come sailing along Leith strand.

Half ower, half ower to Aberdour,
Where the seas do run so deep,
'Tis there does lie young Sir Patrick Spens,
With the Scots lords at his feet.

credits

from 52 Folk Songs: Blue, released January 19, 2012

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Phil Edwards Manchester, UK

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