The Maid and The Palmer - Steeleye Span

Oh, the maid went down to the well for to wash

And the dew fell down from her snow-white flesh

The dew fell down from her snow-white flesh

As the sun shone down so early

And as she washed, as she wrung

She hung them out on the hazel wand

She hung them out on the hazel wand

And by there came a palmer man

Oh, God speed you, Old Man, she cries

God speed you, you pretty fair maid

God speed you, you pretty fair maid

As the sun shines down so early

Have you got a cup, have you got a can?

Can you give a drink to a palmer man?

Can you give a drink to a palmer man?

As the sun shines down so early

Oh, I’ve no cup and I’ve no can

And I cannot give a drink to a palmer man

And I cannot give a drink to a palmer man

As the sun shines down so early

You lie, you lie, you are forsworn

For if your true love came from Rome

Then a cup, a can you’d find for him

As the sun shines down so early

Now, she swore by God and the good St. John

Truelover she had never a one

Truelover she had never a one

As the sun shines down so early

You lie, you lie, you are forsworn

For nine children you have born

For nine children you have born

As the sun shines down so early

Oh, there’s three of them lying under your bed-head

Three of them under the hearth are laid

Three of them under the hearth are laid

As the sun shines down so early

Three more laying on yonder green

Count, fair maid, for that makes nine

Count, fair maid, for that makes nine

As the sun shines down so early

Palmer, oh, Palmer, do tell me

Penance that you will give to me

Penance that you will give to me

As the sun shines down so early

Penance I will give thee none

But seven years as a stepping stone

But seven years as a stepping stone

As the sun shines down so early

Seven more as a clapper to ring in the bell

Seven to run from the apes of hell

Seven to run from the apes of hell

As the sun shines down so early

Welcome, welcome stepping stone

Welcome clapper in the bell to ring

Welcome clapper in the bell to ring

As the sun shines down so early

Welcome stone, welcome bell

Christ, keep me from the apes of hell

Christ, keep me from the apes of hell

As the sun shines down so early