[Verse 1]
Sweet William arose one May morning
And he dressed himself in blue
We want you to tell us something about
That long love between Lady Margaret and you
Well, I know nothing about Miss Lady Margaret's love
And I know that she don't love me
But tomorrow mornin' at eight o'clock
Lady Margaret my bride shall see
But tomorrow mornin' at eight o'clock
Lady Margaret my bride shall see

[Verse 2]
Lady Margaret was standin' in her own hall door
A-combin' down her hair
When who should she spy but sweet William and his bride
And the lawyers a-riding by
Oh, she threw down her ivory comb
Bound her hair in silk
And she stepped out of her own hall door
To nevеr return any more
Yes, shе stepped out of her own hall door
To never return any more

[Verse 3]
Well, the day bein' past and the night a-comin' on
When most all men was asleep
Sweet William a-spied Miss Lady Margaret's ghost
A-standin' at his own bed feet
Oh, how do you like the bed, she asked him
And how do you like the sheet
And how do you like that pretty fair miss
That's a-layin' in your arms so asleep?
And how do you like that pretty fair miss
That's a-layin' in your arms so asleep?
[Verse 4]
Very well, very well do I like the bed
Very well do I like the sheet
But the best one of all is that pretty fair miss
That's a-standin' at my own bed feet
But the best one of all is that pretty fair miss
That's a-standin' at my own bed feet

[Verse 5]
Well, the night bein' past and the day comin' on
When most all men was at work
Sweet William he said he was troubled in his head
From a dream that he dreamed last night
Such dreams, such dreams they are no good
Such dreams they are no good
For I dreamed my hall was filled with wild swine
And my true love was swimming in blood
For I dreamed my hall was filled with wild swine
And my true love was swimming in blood

[Verse 6]
He called his merry men to his side
And counted one, two, three
And the last one of them go ask of my bride
Lady Margaret I might go and see
Well, he rode and he rode to Miss Lady Margaret's hall
Tingled all on the ring
No one was so ready as Lady Margaret's brother
To rise and welcome him in
No one was so ready as Lady Margaret's brother
To rise and welcome him in
[Verse 7]
Oh, is she in her garden, he asked him
Or is she in her hall
Or is she in the upper parlor
Amongst those ladies all?
She neither is in her garden, he answered
She neither is in her hall
But yonder she lies in her cold coffin
That's a-sitting by the side of the wall
But yonder she lies in her cold coffin
That's a-sitting by the side of the wall

[Verse 8]
Fold dawn, fold down them milk-white sheets
They're made of linen so fine
Tonight they shall hang o'er my Lady Margaret's corpse
But tomorrow they shall hang over mine
Yes, fold down, fold down them milk-white sheets
Made of linen so fine
May I go and kiss them cold clay lips
For they oftentimes have kissed mine
May I go and kiss them clay cold lips
For they oftentimes have kissed mine

[Verse 9]
Well, first he kissed her on her lips
And then he kissed her chin
And then he kissed her clay cold lips
Which crushed his heart within
Lady Margaret she died as it might be today
Sweet William he died tomorrow
And out of her grave there sprung a red rose
And out of his a briar
And out of her grave there sprang a red rose
And out of his a briar
[Verse 10]
They grew and they grew to the steeple top
They could not grow no higher
And there they tied in a true lover's knot
For all young people to admire
And there they tied in a true lover's knot
For all young people to admire