The lady sits at her own front door
As straight as a willow wand
And by there come a lusty smith
With his hammer in his hand

     Crying bide lady bide
     For there's a nowhere you can hide
     For the lusty smith will be your love
     And he will lay your pride.

Why do you sit there lady fair
All in your robes of red
I'll come tomorrow at this same time
And have you in me bed

     Crying . . .

Away away you coal black smith
Would you do me this wrong
For to think to have me maiden head
That I have kept so long

I'd rather I was dead and cold
And me body laid in the grave
Than a lusty, dusty, coal black smith
Me maiden head should have

     Crying . . .

So the lady, she curled up her hand
And swore upon the mold
That he'd not have her maiden head
For all of a pot of gold.

But the blacksmith he curled up his hand
And he swore upon the mast
That he would have her maiden head
For the half of that or less

     Crying . . .

So the lady she turned into a dove
And flew up into the air
Ah, but he became an old cock pigeon
And they flew pair and pair

     Cooing . . .
So the lady she turned into a mare
As dark as the night was black
Ah, but he became a golden saddle
And he clumb upon to her back

     Itching . . .

So the lady she turned into a hare
And ran all over the plane
Ah, but he became a greyhound dog
And ran her down again

     Barking . . .

So the lady she turned into a fly
And fluttered up into the air
Ah, but he became a big, hairy spider
And dragged her into his lair

     Spinning . . .


So the lady she turned into a sheep
Grazing on yon common
Ah, but he became a big horny ram
And soon he was upon her.

     Bleating . . .

So she turned into a full dress ship
And she sailed all over the sea
Ah, but he became a bold captain
And aboard of her went he

     Ordering . . .

So the lady she turned into a cloud
Floating away in the air
Ah, but he became a lightning flash
And zipped right into her

     Shocking . . .

So she turned into a mulberry tree
A mulberry tree in the wood
Ah, but he came forth as the morning dew
And sprinkled her where she stood.

     Dripping . . .

So the lady she ran into the bedroom
And she changed into a bed
Ah, but he became a green coverlet
And he gained her maiden head

And once she woke he took her so
And still he bad her bide
And the lusty smith became her love
For all of her mighty pride.

This song is a derivative of Child Ballad 44, with a tune by
A. L. Lloyd. It was recorded by John Roberts & Tony Barrand on
Dark Ships in the Forest, Folk Legacy 65 in the key of C.
  also by Frankie Armstrong on Bird in the Bush and by Carthy
Child #44
@magic @animal @ballad @courtship
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