Sir John Lyrics

False Sir John a-courting went
a lady young and fair,
May Colvin was this lady's name
her father's only heir.
"Give me of your father's gold
and of your mother's fee,
I'll take thee to a far-off land
and there I'll marry thee."

She's mounted on a milk-white steed,
he on a dapple grey,
and they rode to a lonesome cliff
high above the sea.

Rain was falling down.
Lie down, lie down.
Rain was falling down.
Lie down, lie down.
"Light down",says False Sir John,
"thy bridal bed to see.
It's seven women I've drowned here,
the eighth one you shall be."

"Have off, have off thy gown of silk
with borders all around,
it's far too costly to lay down here
and rot on the cold, cold ground."

"Turn around, thou false Sir John
and look at that oak tree,
for it don't become a gentleman
a naked maid to see."
Now Sir John has turned around
to look at that oak tree,
she's made a dash with her arm so strong,
pushed him into the sea.

"Lie there, false-hearted wretch,
lie there instead of me.
It's seven women you've drowned here
the eighth has drowned thee.
It's seven women you've drowned here
the eighth has drowned thee."