Lady Margaret she sits in her bower sewing
Ma-ba and the lilly ba
When she saw the knight with his horn a-blowing
On the very first morning of May
Oh I wish that I had that horn I hear blowing
Ma-ba and the lilly ba
And that young knight to sleep here on my breast
On the very first morning of May.
Now the lady she had these words scarce spoke
Ma-ba and a lilly ba
When in at her window the knight come a jumping
On the very first morning of May
Oh strange it is, oh strange young woman
Ma-ba and the lilly ba
I can scarce blow my horn since I hear you a-calling
On the very first morning of May
Go fetch you gold from your father’s table
Deliver it unto me
And the fastest horses in your father’s stable
Where there sat thirty and three
So he’s mounted him on the black black horse
And she’s rode the dapple grey
And they rode til they came to the broad sea-shore
Just three hours before it was day
Lie down, lie down off your horse he says
And deliver it up to me
For it’s six pretty maids I have drowned here
And the seventh one you shall be
Take off, take off all your clothes he said
And deliver them unto me
For they are far too fine and costly robes
For to rot in the salt of the sea
Lie down, lie down off your horse she said
And turn your back unto me
For it’s not fitting that any gentleman
A naked lady should see
So he’s lighted him down off his horse so high
And he’s turned onto she
And she’s catched around the middle so small
And she’s tumbled him all down in the sea
Sometimes he sank, sometimes he swam
And it’s ma-ba and the lilly ba
Oh help, oh help me pretty mistress
Or drowned I shall be
Lie there lie there oh you false young man
Lie there instead of me
For it’s six pretty maids you have drowned there
And the seventh one has drowned thee
So she’s mounted her on the black black horse
And she’s led the dapple grey
And she rode til she came to her father’s house
An hour before it was day
A parrot sitting up at her window side
It’s ma-ba and the lilly ba
Oh where have you been my pretty mistress
An hour before it is day
Don’t you prattle don’t you prattle my pretty polly
Don’t you tell the tales on me
And your cage shall be made of the best glittering gold
And your perch of the best ivory
But her father sitting up at his window side
On hearing the parrot he did say
Oh what is the matter my pretty polly
That you cry so long before day?
Oh there come a cat to my window side
And it’s ma-ba and the lilly ba
And I was calling my pretty mistress
Just to frighten that pussy cat away