Willy O' Winsbury Lyrics

The king has been a prisoner

And a prisoner long in Spain

And Willy O Winsbury

Has lain long with his daughter at home

What ails you what ails you my daughter dear

That you look so pale and wan

O have you had any sore sickness

Or yet been sleeping with a man

Cast off cast off your berry brown gown

And stand naked upon the stain

That I may ken ye by your shape

If ye be a maiden or nain

And she's cast off her berry brown gown

And stood naked upon the stain

Her apron was low and her haunches round

Her skin was pale and wan

O was it with a lord or a duke or a knight

Or a man of birth or fame

Or was it with one of my serving men

Who's lately come out of Spain

No it wasn't with a lord or a duke or a knight

Or a man of birth or fame

But it was with Willy O Winsbury

I could bide no longer alone

Now the king has called his merry men all

By thirty and by three

Saying fetch me that Willy O Winsbury

For hanged a man he shall be

But when he came the king before

He was clad all in the red silk

His hair was like the golden strands

His skin was white as the milk

And it is no wonder said the king

That my daughters love you did win

For if I were woman as I am man

My bedfellow you would have been

O will you marry my daughter Janet

By the truth of your right hand

O will you marry my daughter Janet

I'll make ye lord of my land

O yes I will marry your daughter Janet

By the truth of my right hand

O yes I will marry your daughter Janet

But I'll not be lord of your land

And he's mounted her on a milk white steed

And himself on a dapple grey

He has made her lady of much land

And they shall ride on a warm summers day