Mary Hamilton
anonyme
Originale | La versione di Joan Baez |
MARY HAMILTON Word's gane to the kitchen, And word's gane to the ha’ That Mary Hamilton gangs wi bairn To the hichest Stewart of a’. He's courted her in the kitchen, He's courted her in the ha’, He's courted her in the laigh cellar And that was warst of a’! She's tyed it in her apron And she's thrown it in the sea; Says, "Sink ye, swim ye, bonny wee babe! You’l ne’er get mair o’ me." Down then cam the auld queen, Goud tassels tying her hair: "O Marie, where's the bonny wee babe That I heard greet sae sair?" "There was never a babe intill my room, As little designs to be; It was but a touch o my sair side Come o'er my fair bodie." "O Marie, put on your robes o’ black, Or else your robes o’ brown, For ye maun gang wi’ me the night To see fair Edinbro’ town." "I winna put on my robes o’ black, Nor yet my robes o’ brown, But I’ll put on my robes o’ white To shine through Edinbro’ town." When she gaed up the Cannogate, She laugh'd loud laughters three; But whan she cam down the Cannogate The tear blinded her ee. When she gaed up the Parliament stair, The heel cam aff her shee; And lang or she cam down again She was condemned to dee. Whan she cam down the Cannogate, The Cannogate sae free, Many a ladie look'd o'er her window Weeping for this ladie. "Ye need nae weep for me", she says, "Ye need nae weep for me; For had I not slain mine own sweet babe, This death I wadna dee. "Bring me a bottle of wine", she says, "The best that e'er ye hae, That I may drink to my weil-wishers, An they may drink to me. "Here's a health to the jolly sailors, That sail upon the main; Let them never let on to my father and mother, But what I'm coming hame. "Here's a health to the jolly sailors, That sail upon the sea; Let them never let on to my father an mother That I cam here to dee. "O little did my mother think The day she cradled me, What lans I was to travel through, What death I was to dee. "O little did my father think, The day he held up me, What lands I was to travel through, What death I was to dee. "Last night I wash'd the queen's feet, An gently laid her down; And a’ the thanks I’ve gotten the night, To be hang’d in Edinbro’ town. "Last nicht there was four Maries, The nicht there'l bee bit three; There was Marie Seton, an Marie Beton, And Marie Carmichael, and me." | MARY HAMILTON Word is to the kitchen gone, And word is to the hall And word is up to madam the queen, And that's the worst of all. That Mary Hamilton has borne a babe To the highest Stuart of all. Oh rise, arise Mary Hamilton Arise and tell to me What thou hast done with thy wee babe I saw and heard weep by thee I put him in a tiny boat And cast him out to sea That he might sink or he might swim But he'd never come back to me Oh rise arise Mary Hamilton Arise and come with me There is a wedding in Glasgow town This night we'll go and see She put not on her robes of black Nor her robes of brown But she put on her robes of white To ride into Glasgow town And as she rode into Glasgow town The city for to see The bailiff's wife and the provost's wife Cried alack, and alas for thee Oh you need not weep for me, she cried You need not weep for me For had I not slain my own wee babe This death I would not dee Oh little did my mother think When first she cradled me The lands I was to travel in And the death I was to dee Last night I washed the queen's feet Put the gold in her hair And the only reward I find for this The gallows to be my share Cast off, cast off my gown, she cried But let my petticoat be And tie a napkin round my face The gallows, I would not see Then by and come the king himself Looked up with a pitiful eye Come down, come down Mary Hamilton Tonight you will dine with me Oh hold your tongue, my sovereign liege And let your folly be For if you'd a mind to save my life You'd never have shamed me here Last night there were four Marys Tonight there'll be but three It was Mary Beaton and Mary Seton And Mary Carmichael, and me. |