It fell upon a holy day
As many in the year
Musgrave to the church did go
To see fine ladies there

And some were dressed in velvet red
And some in velvet pale
Then came Lord Barnard's wife
The fairest 'mongst them all

She cast an eye on the Little Musgrave
As bright as summer's sun
Said Musgrave unto himself
This lady's heart I've won

I have loved you, fair lady, full long and many's the day
And I have loved you, Little Musgrave, and never a word did say

I've a bower in Bucklesfordbury, it's my heart's delight
I'll take you back there with me if you'll lie in me arms tonight

But standing by was a little footpage, from the lady's coach he ran
Although I am a lady's page, I am Lord Barnard's man
And milord Barnard will hear of this, oh whether I sink or swim
Everywhere the bridge was broke he'd enter the water and swim
Oh milord Barnard, milord Barnard, you are a man of life
But Musgrave, he's at Bucklesfordbury, asleep with your wedded wife
If this be true, me little footpage, this thing that you tell me
All the gold in Bucklesfordbury I gladly will give to thee

But if this be a lie, me little footpage, this thing that you tell me
From the highest tree in Bucklesfordbury hanged you will be

Go saddle me the black, " he said, "go saddle me the gray
And sound ye not your horns, " he said, "lest our coming be betrayed
But there was a man in Lord Barnard's thrain, who loved the Little Musgrave
He blew his horn both loud and shrill, Away, Musgrave, away

I think I hear the morning cock, I think I hear the jay
I think I hear Lord Barnard's men, I wish I was away
Lie still, lie still, me Little Musgrave, hug me from the cold
It's nothing but a shepherd lad, a-bringing his flock to fold
Is not your hawk upon it's perch, your steed eats oats and hay
And you a lady in your arms, and yet you'd go away

He's turned her around and he's kissed her twice, and then they fell asleep
When they awoke Lord Barnard's men were standing at their feet
How do ye like me bed, " he said, "and how do you like me sheets?
How do you like me fair lady, that lies in your arms asleep?

It's well I like your bed, he said, and great it gives me pain
I'd gladly give a hundred pound to be on yonder plain
Rise up, rise up, Little Musgrave, rise up and then put on
It'll not be said in this country I slayed a naked man

So slowly, so slowly he got up, so slowly he put on
Slowly down the stairs, thinking to be slain

There are two swords down by my side, and dear they cost me purse
You can have the best of them, and I will take the worst

And the first stroke that Little Musgrave stroke, it hurt Lord Barnard sore
But the next stroke Lord Barnard stroke, Little Musgrave ne'er stroke more

And then up spoke the lady fair, from the bed whereon she lay
Although you're dead, me Little Musgrave, still for you I'll pray
How do you like his cheeks, he said, How do you like his chin?
How do you like his dead body, now there's no life within?

It's more I like his cheeks, she cried, and more I want his chin
It's more I love that dead body, than all your kith and kin

He's taken out his long long sword, to strike the mortal blow
Through and through the lady's heart, the cold steel it did go
A grave, a grave, " Lord Barnard cried, to put these lovers in
With me lady on the upper hand. She came from better kin

For I've just killed the finest knight that ever rode a steed
And I've just killed the finest lady that ever did a woman's deed
It fell upon a holy day, as many's in the year
Musgrave to the church did go, to see fine ladies there