The king has been a poor prisoner
A prisoner lying in Spain
And Willy 'O the Winsboro
Has lain long with his daughter at home
"What troubles you, my daughter dear
You look so pale and wan
Oh, have you had any sore sickness
Or yet been sleeping with a man?"
"I have not had any sore sickness
Nor yet been sleeping with a man
It is for you, my father dear
For biding so long in Spain"
"Cast off, cast off your berry-brown gown
Stand naked upon the stane
That I may know you by your shape
Whether you be a maiden or nane"
So she cast off her berry-brown gown
Stood naked upon the stone
Her haunches were round, and her apron lay shorn
Her cheeks, thеy were pale and wan
"Was hе lord or a duke or a knight
Or a man of birth and fame
Or is he one of my serving men
That's lately come out of Spain?"
"He is nay a lord or a duke or a knight
Nor a man of birth or fame
But he is Willy 'O the Winsboro
I could bide no longer alain"
The king has called on his merry men all
By thirty and three
Saying "Bring me this Willy 'O the Winsboro
For hanged he shall be"
But when he came the king before
He was clad in blood red-silk
His hair was like the strands of gold
His skin was as white as the milk
"It is no wonder," said the king
"That my daughter's love you did win
For if I'd been a woman, as I am a man
My bedfellow you would have been"
"Oh and will you marry my daughter Janet
By the truth of your right hand?
Oh and will you marry my daughter Janet
And be a lord of all the land"
"Oh and I will marry your daughter Janet
By the truth of my right hand
Oh and I, I will marry your daughter Janet
But I won't be the lord of the land"
Then he's mounted her on a milk-white steed
Himself on a dapple grey
And he's made her a lady of as much land
As she can ride in a long summer's day
Lyrics provided by LRCLIB
