Willie sits in his stable door
And he's combing his coal-black steed
Doubting on fair Margaret's love
And his heart began to bleed
"Give corn unto my horse, mother
And meat to my man John
And I'll away to fair Margaret's bower
Before the night comes on."

"Stay at home with me, dear Willie
Oh stay at home with me
In the deepest part of the Clyde water
Then you shall drowned be."
"Oh the good steed I ride upon
Cost me thrice thirty pounds
I'll put trust in his swift feet
To take me safe and sound."

He's ridden o'er high, high hill
And he's down yon dowie den
And the rushing the Clyde water
Would have feared five hundred men
"O roaring Clyde, you roar so loud
Your streams are wondrous strong
Make me a wreck as I come back
And spare me as I'm going."
Oh and when he's got to Margaret's bower
He's turled low on the pin
Saying "Rise up, me good Margaret
Rise up and let me in."
"Oh who is this at my bower door
Calling May Margaret's name?"
"It's only your first love, little William
This night come to her home."

"Open up your castle gates
Open and let me in
For me boots they are full of the Clyde water
And I'm frozen to the skin."
"Oh me barns are full of corn, Willie
The stable's full of hay
And me bower's full of gentlemen
They'll not remove till day."

"Fare you well to you, May Margaret
It's fare thee well and adieu
For I have won my mother's own curse
In coming this night to you."
So he's ridden o'er high, high hill
And down yon dowie den
And the rushing in the Clyde water
Took Willie's cane from him
And he's leaned him over his saddle-bow
To catch his cane again
And the rushing in the Clyde water
Took Willie's hat from him
He's leaned him over his saddle-bow
To catch his hat by force
And the rushing in the Clyde water
Took Willie from his horse

And the very hour that young man sank
Into the parts so deep
Then up and awoke this May Margaret
Out from her drowsy sleep
"Come here come here, my mother dear
And you read my dreary dream
Oh I dreamed my lover was at our gates
And nobody let him in."

"Oh Lie down, lie down, you May Margaret
Lie down and take your rest
And since your lover was at our gates
It's but two quarters passed."
Then nimbly, nimbly rose she up
Went down to the river's brim
And the louder that this lady cried
The louder grew the wind
And the very first step that she went in
She waded to her feet
And it's "oh" and "alas," this lady says
"The water's wondrous deep."
And the very next step that she went in
She's waded to her knee
Says she, "I would wade farther in
If I my true lover could see."

And the very last step that she went in
She's waded to her chin
And the deepest part of Clyde water
She found sweet William in
"Oh you have had a cruel mother, Willie
And I have had another
And now we'll sleep in Clyde water
Like sister and brother."