As it fell out upon a day

As many in the year

Musgrave to the church did go

To see fair ladies there


The first to come down was dressed in red

And the second dressed in pall

The third to come down

was the Lady Barnard

The fairest of them all


She's tripped up to Little Musgrave

As bright as the summer sun

And then bethought this Little Musgrave

This lady's love I've won


Good day good day you handsome youth

God make you safe and free

What would you give this day Musgrave

To spend the night with me


I dare not for my lands, lady

I dare not for my life

For the ring on your white finger says

You are Lord Barnard's wife


What if I am Lord Barnard's wife

Lord Barnard's not at home

You shall slip into his bed

And keep his lady warm


You nothing have to fear Musgrave

You nothing have to fear

I'll set the page outside my door

To watch til morning clear


And it's woe be to the little footpage

And an ill death may he die

For he's away to the green woodside

As fast as he could fly


And when he came to the broke down bridge

He bent to his breast and he swam

And when he came to the other side

He took to his heels and ran


And when he came to the green woodside

'Twas dark as dark can be

And he found Lord Barnard and his men

Asleep beneath the trees


Arise arise Master he said

Arise and speak to me

Your wife's in bed with Little Musgrave

Arise right speedily


If this be truth you tell to me

Gold shall be your fee

But if it be false you tell to me

Hanged you shall be


Go and saddle me the black he said

Go and saddle me the grey

But sound you not the horn said he

Lest our coming it should betray


But there was one in Lord Barnard's train

He loved the Little Musgrave

And he blew his horn so loud and shrill

Away Musgrave Away


Oh I think I hear the morning cock

I think I hear the jay

I think I hear Lord Barnard's horn

Away Musgrave Away


Lie down, lie down, you little Musgrave

And keep my back from the cold

It's only Lord Barnard's shepherds horn

Calling his sheep from the fold


Is not your hawk upon its perch

Your steed it's oats and hay

And you a gay lady in your arms

And yet you would away


So he's turned him right and round about

And he fell fast asleep

And when he woke Lord Barnard's men

Were standing at his feet


Then it's how do you like my bed he says

And how do you like my sheets

And how do you like my lady gay

That lies in your arms in sleep


It's very well I like your bed

And better I like your sheets

And better I like your lady gay

That lies in my arms in sleep


Get up, get up Musgrave he cries

Get up as quick as you can

In England it shall never be said

I slew a naked man


And slowly, slowly he got up

And slowly he put on

And slowly down the stairs he come

Thinking to be slain


And the very first blow Little Musgrave took

It was both deep and sore

And down he fell at Barnard's feet

And word he never spoke more


And how do you like his cheeks, lady

And how do you like his chin

And how do you like his fair body

Now there's no life within


It's well I like his cheeks she said

And well I like his chin

And better I like his fair body

Than all your kith and kin


And he's taken up his long long sword

To strike a mortal blow

And through and through the Lady's heart

The cold steel it did go


As it fell out upon a day

As many in the year

Musgrave to the church did go

To see fair ladies there