Joan Baez "Mary Hamilton" lyrics

Mary Hamilton

Word is to the kitchen gone,and word is to the hallAnd word is up to madam the queen,and that's the worst of allThat Mary Hamilton has borne a babeTo the highest stuart of all

Oh rise, arise Mary HamiltonArise and tell to meWhat thou hast done with thy wee babeI saw and heard weep by thee

I put him in a tiny boatAnd cast him out to seaThat he might sink or he might swimBut he'd never come back to me

Oh rise arise Mary HamiltonArise and come with meThere is a wedding in Glasgow townThis night we'll go and see

She put not on her robes of blackNor her robes of brownBut she put on her robes of whiteTo ride into Glasgow town

And as she rode into Glasgow townThe city for to seeThe bailiff's wife and the provost's wifeCried alack and alas for thee

Oh you need not weep for me she criedYou need not week for meFor had I not slain my own wee babeThis death I would not dee

Oh little did my mother thinkWhen first she cradled meThe lands I was to travel inAnd the death I was to dee

Last night I washed the queen's feetPut the gold in her hairAnd the only reward I find for thisThe gallows to be my share

Cast off, cast off my gown, she criedBut let my petticoat beAnd tie a napkin round my faceThe gallows, I would not see

Then by them come the king himselfLooked up with a pitiful eyeCome down, come down Mary HamiltonTonight you will dine with me

Oh hold your tongue, my sovereign liegeAnd let your folly beFor if you'd a mind to save my lifeYou'd never have shamed me here

Last night there were four MarysTonight there'll be but threeIt was Mary Beaton and Mary SetonAnd Mary Carmichael and me

Here one can find the lyrics of the song Mary Hamilton by Joan Baez. Or Mary Hamilton poem lyrics. Joan Baez Mary Hamilton text.