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."