Eliza Carthy: Sheath And Knife

It's whispered in parlour it's whispered in hall
Oh the broom blooms bonny the broom blooms fair
Lady Anne's with child among the ladies all
And she dare not go down to the broom no more

One king's daughter said to another
Oh the broom blooms bonny the broom blooms fair
We'll go ride like sister and brother
And we'll never go down to the broom no more

We'll go ride in yonder valley
Oh the broom blooms bonny the broom blooms fair
Where the green green trees are budding so rarely
And we'll never go down to the broom no more

With hawk and hound we'll hunt so rarely
Oh the broom blooms bonny the broom blooms fair
And we'll come back all in the morning early
And we'll never go down to the broom no more

So they rode out like sister and brother
Oh the broom blooms bonny the broom blooms fair
And they hunted and hawked in the valley together
And they'll never go down to the broom no more

'Lady hold my horse and my hawk
Oh the broom blooms bonny the broom blooms fair
For I cannot ride and I dare not walk'
And we'll never go down to the broom no more

'But set me down by the root o' this tree
Oh the broom blooms bonny the broom blooms fair
For there have I dreamt that my last bed shall be'
And we'll never go down to the broom no more

The one king's daughter did lift down the other
Oh the broom blooms bonny the broom blooms fair
She was light in her arms like any feather
And she'll never go down to the broom no more

Bonnie Lady Anne sat down by the tree
Oh the broom blooms bonny the broom blooms fair
And there a grave was made where none should be
And she'll never go down to the broom no more

The hawk had no lure the horse had no master
Oh the broom blooms bonny the broom blooms fair
And the faithless hounds through the woods they ran faster
And they'll never go down to the broom no more

Oh when that you hear my loud loud cry
Oh the broom blooms bonny the broom blooms fair
Then bend your bow and let your arrow fly
Cause we'll never go down to the broom no more