Clyde Waters (Child 216) - Anaïs Mitchell, Jefferson Hamer

Willie stands in his stable door

And he’s combing his coal black steed

And he’s thinking of fair Margaret’s love

And his heart began to bleed

«Mother, fetch my hat and coat

Help me tie them on

I’ll away to fair Margaret’s bower

Before the night comes on»

«Stay at home with me, dear Willie

Tonight there comes a storm

I’ll lay the table handsomely

Your bed be soft and warm»

«Your tables, mother, and your beds

They cannot bring me rest

I’ll away to fair Margaret’s bower

Before the night has passed»

«If you go to fair Margaret’s bower

My curse will go with thee

And the deepest part of the Clyde Water

Drowned you shall be»

«The good steed that I ride upon

Cost me thrice thirty pounds

I’ll put my trust in his swift feet

To take me safe and sound»

He’s rode over the high, high hill

Down the dewy glen

And the rushing in the Clyde Water

Would have feared five hundred men

«Roaring Clyde, you roar so loud

Your streams are wondrous strong

Make me a wreck as I come back

Spare me as I’m going»

And when he came to fair Margaret’s gate

He’s called to her within

«Rise up, rise up, maid Margaret

Rise up and let me in!»

«Who's that stands at my garden gate

Calling maid Margaret’s name?»

«It's only your first love, sweet William

This night come to your home —

Open your door, maid Margaret

Open and let me in

My boots are full of the Clyde Water

And I’m shivering to the skin"

«My stable is full of horses, Willie

My barns are full of hay

And my bowers are full of gentlemen

They’ll not remove 'til day»

«Fare thee well, maid Margaret

Fair thee well, adieu

A curse my mother laid on me

For coming this night to you»

He’s rode over the high, high hill

Down the dewy glen

And the rushing in the Clyde Water

Took Willie’s hat from him

Then he’s leaned him over the saddlebow

To fetch his hat again

And the rushing in the Clyde Water

Took Willie’s coat from him

And he’s leaned him over his saddlebow

To catch his coat by force

And the rushing in the Clyde Water

Took Willie from his horse

The very hour this young man sank

Down in the watery deep

Then up and rose maid Margaret

Out of her drowsy sleep

«Come here, come here, my mother dear

I’ve dreamed a dreary dream

I dreamed my lover was at our gate

And nobody let him in»

«Lie down, lie down, maid Margaret

Your lover’s come and gone

The sport you would have made with him

I’ve played it for my own»

Nimbly, nimbly, rose she up

Down to the river’s brim

But the louder that this lady cried

The louder blew the wind

The very first step that Margaret took

She stepped up to her feet

And «Oh, and alas», this lady sighs

«Your water’s wondrous deep»

And the very next step that she went in

She’s waded to her knee

Says she, «I would wade farther in

If I my true lover could see»

And the very last step that she went in

She stepped up to her chin

And the deepest part of the Clyde Water

She found sweet William in

«You have had a cruel mother, Willie

I have had another

And now we sleep in Clyde Water

Like sister and like brother»