Martin Carthy And Dave Swarbrick - Clyde's Water Lyrics

Martin Carthy And Dave Swarbrick - Clyde's Water Lyrics

Willie stands in his own front door,
He's clapping at his good steed;
And down come his own mother
And she would have him bide.
“Give corn to my good horse now, mother,
Meat to my brother John,
For I am away to my darling's house
And I won't be back till morn.”

“Stay at home with me, my darling,
Stay at home with me,
And the finest sheep in all of the flock
Your dinner it will be.”
“Oh all your sheep and all your flocks
I value not a pin,
For I am away to my darling's house
And I won't be back till morn.”

“Stay at home with me, my darling,
Stay at home with me,
And the finest cock in all of the roost
Your supper it will be.”
“Oh all your cocks and all your hens
I value not a pin,
For I am away to my darling's house
And I won't be back till morn.”

“Stay at home with me, my darling,
Son, stay with me,
For if you leave this house this night
My curse'll follow thee.
And if you go to your darling's house
So sore against my will,
From the deepest pot of Clyde water
My curse'll keep you still.”

Now he went up yon high high hill
And down by yonder glen,
And the roaring that was Clyde water
Would fear five hundred men.
“O roaring Clyde, you roar so loud,
Your stream is wondrous strong,
Make me your wreck when I come back
But spare me if I come.”

Now he come to his darling's house
And he rung low at the ring,
“Oh speed you and you, darling dear,
Rise up and let me in.
Oh rise and open the door, my darling,
Rise and let me in,
For my boots are filled with Clyde water
I'm shivering to my skin.”

He thought it was his darling dear
Rose up and let him in,
He thought it was his darling dear
But it was no such thing.
It was the voice of her mother,
She sounded just the same,
Saying, “The bowers are filled with gentlemen,
They won't be gone till morn.”

“My curse be on you, false darling,
And my curse be on you.
I got our mother's malison
For coming here to you.”
And he went up yon high, high hill
And down by yonder glen,
And the roaring that was Clyde water
Took Willie's cane from him.

He leaned from his saddle-bow
To catch his cane again,
And the roaring that was Clyde water
Took Willie's hat from him.
And he leaned out of the saddle-bow
To catch his hat with force,
And the roaring that was Clyde water
Took Willie from his horse.

His brother stood on the further bank,
“Oh fie, and will you drown,
Turn, turn to your high horse head
And do learn how to swim.”
“How can I turn to my high horse head?
How can I learn to swim?
I got our mother's malison
And it's here that I must drown.”

Now the very hour that Willie sank
Into the pot so deep,
His darling girl come wide awake
From out her drowsy sleep.
“Oh mother dear I dreamed a dream,
I dreamed it fierce and strong.
I dreamed my darling come to the door,
There was none would let him in.”

“Oh lie down, my own dear daughter,
Lie and down and rest,
Since your darling come to the door
It's a full half-hour past.”
So nimble, nimble she rose up,
So nimble she put on.
But the louder that this lady cried
The louder blew the wind.

And she stepped in Clyde water
And the water wet her feet,
And sighing says this darling girl,
“This water's wondrous deep.”
And she stepped in Clyde water
And the water come to her knee,
And sighing says this darling girl,
“This water's deep for me.”

And she stepped in Clyde water
And the water come to her chin.
From the deepest pot of Clyde water
She pulled her darling man.
“Oh you have got one curse now, Willie,
See I have another.
And we will die in Clyde water
Like sister and like brother.”