It fell (D) upon a holy (Em) day,
As many (D) in the year,
Musgrave (D) to the church (Em) did go,
To see (D) fine ladies (A) there (D) 

And some (D) were dressed in velvet (Em) red
And some (D) in velvet pale
Then (D) came Lord Barnard's (EM) wife
The fairest (D) 'mongst (A) them all (D) 

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

"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."

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.