Standard (EADGBE)

Lady Margaret she sits in her bower sewing

Ma-ba and the lilly ba

When she saw the knight with his horn a-blowing

On the very first morning of May

Oh I wish that I had that horn I hear blowing

Ma-ba and the lilly ba

And that young knight to sleep here on my breast

On the very first morning of May.

Now the lady she had these words scarce spoke

Ma-ba and a lilly ba

When in at her window the knight come a jumping

On the very first morning of May

Oh strange it is, oh strange young woman

Ma-ba and the lilly ba

I can scarce blow my horn since I hear you a-calling

On the very first morning of May

Go fetch you gold from your father’s table

Deliver it unto me

And the fastest horses in your father’s stable

Where there sat thirty and three

So he’s mounted him on the black black horse

And she’s rode the dapple grey

And they rode til they came to the broad sea-shore

Just three hours before it was day

Lie down, lie down off your horse he says

And deliver it up to me

For it’s six pretty maids I have drowned here

And the seventh one you shall be

Take off, take off all your clothes he said

And deliver them unto me

For they are far too fine and costly robes

For to rot in the salt of the sea

Lie down, lie down off your horse she said

And turn your back unto me

For it’s not fitting that any gentleman

A naked lady should see

So he’s lighted him down off his horse so high

And he’s turned onto she

And she’s catched around the middle so small

And she’s tumbled him all down in the sea

Sometimes he sank, sometimes he swam

And it’s ma-ba and the lilly ba

Oh help, oh help me pretty mistress

Or drowned I shall be

Lie there lie there oh you false young man

Lie there instead of me

For it’s six pretty maids you have drowned there

And the seventh one has drowned thee

So she’s mounted her on the black black horse

And she’s led the dapple grey

And she rode til she came to her father’s house

An hour before it was day

A parrot sitting up at her window side

It’s ma-ba and the lilly ba

Oh where have you been my pretty mistress

An hour before it is day

Don’t you prattle don’t you prattle my pretty polly

Don’t you tell the tales on me

And your cage shall be made of the best glittering gold

And your perch of the best ivory

But her father sitting up at his window side

On hearing the parrot he did say

Oh what is the matter my pretty polly

That you cry so long before day?

Oh there come a cat to my window side

And it’s ma-ba and the lilly ba

And I was calling my pretty mistress

Just to frighten that pussy cat away