Christy Moore – Little Musgrave (Guitar)

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It fell upon a holy-day

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As many in the year, 

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Musgrave to the church did go 

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to see fine ladies there 

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And some were dressed in velvet red 

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and some in velvet pale 

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And then in came Lord Barnard's wife, 

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The fairest among them all. 

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She cast an eye on Little Musgrave, 

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full bright as the summer sun; 

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Said Musgrave unto himself 

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"This lady's heart have I won." 

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I have loved you fair lady 

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for long and many's the day 

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and I have loved you little Musgrave 

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though never a word did say 

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'I have a bower at Bucklesfordberry, 

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It's me hearts delight 

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I'll take you back there with me 

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If you'll lie in my arms all night.' 

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But standing by was a little footpage, 

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From the lady's coach he ran. 

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'Although I am my lady's page, 

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I am Lord Barnard's man. 

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'Lord Barnard shall know of this, 

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Whether I sink or swim;' 

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He'd enter the water and swim. 

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" Lord Barnard, my Lord Barnard, 

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you are a man of life, 

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but Musgrave he's at Bucklesfordberry, 

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Asleep with your wedded wife.' 

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'If this be true, me little footpage, 

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This thing that you tell me, 

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All the gold in Bucklesford Berry 

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Gladly I'll give to thee. 

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'But if this be a lie, thou little foot page, 

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This thing that you tell me, 

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From the highest tree in Bucklesfordberry, 

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Hanged you shall be.' 

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"Go saddle me the black he said 

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go saddle me the grey 

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and sound you not your horns," he said 

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"lest our coming you betray" 

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But there was a man in Lord Barnard's train 

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Who loved the little Musgrave 

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and he blew his horn both loud and shrill 

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'Away, Musgrave, away.'

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'I think I hear the morning cock, 

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I think I hear the jay; 

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I think I hear Lord Barnard's men, 

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And I wish I was away.' 

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'Lie still, lie still, thou Little Musgrave, 

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And hug me from the cold;

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'It's only a shepherd's boy, 

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A-bringing his flock to fold. 

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'Is not your hawk upon it's perch? 

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Your steed eats oats and hay; 

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And You've a lady in your arms, 

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And yet you'd go away?' 

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So he's turned around and he's kissed her twice 

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and then they fell asleep 

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when they awoke Lord Barnard's Men 

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were standing at their feet. 

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"How do you like me bed?" he said, and 

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"How do you like me sheets?" 

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"And how do you like me fair lady , 

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that lies in you arms asleep?" 

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"It's well I like your bed," he said 

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" and great it gives me pain, 

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I would gladly give a hundred pounds 

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to be on yonder plain.' 

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So slowly, so slowly he got up

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So slowly he put on

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Slowly down the stairs

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Thinking to be slain.

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Rise up rise up,little Musgrave, 

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rise up and then put on;

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It shall not be said in fair Ireland 

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that I slayed a naked man. 

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'There are two swords down at my side, 

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and dear they cost my purse; 

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And you shall have the best of them, 

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And I will take the worse.' 

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The first rook that Musgrave struck 

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It hurt Lord Barnard sore; 

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But the next rook that Lord Barnard struck, 

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Little Musgrave ne'er struck more. 

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Then up and spake the fair lady, 

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from on her bed she lay.' 

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'Although you're dead, Little Musgrave,

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Still for you I"ll pray. 

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"How do you like his cheek?" he said, and 

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"how do you like his chin? 

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and how do you like his dead body, 

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now there's no life within." 

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"It's well I like his cheek" she said, 

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"and more I want his chin, 

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It's more I love his dead body, than 

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all your kith and kin." 

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He's taken out his long,long sword, 

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to strike the mortal blow, 

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and through, and through the lady's heart 

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the cold steel it did go 

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'A grave, a grave,' Lord Barnard cried, 

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'To put these lovers in; 

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But put my lady on the upper half, 

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For she came from better kin.' 

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'For I've just killed the finest knight 

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That ever rode a steed; 

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And I've just slain the fairest lady 

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That ever did a woman's deed." 

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It fell upon a holy-day 

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As many's in the year,

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Musgrave to the church did go

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to see fine ladies there