Beau Lampkins was as fine a mason as ever laid stone
He built a fine castle and pay he got none
Said the landlord to the lady, "When I'm from home, beware of Beau Lampkins should he catch you alone"
"Oh no," said the lady, "you need not fear him, our doors are all bolted and our windows barred in"
Beau Lampkins rode by when the landlord was away
And seeing a false nurse at the window, did say
"Oh, where is the landlord or is he at home?"
"He's gone to Mary, England for to visit his son"
"And how shall I enter?" said Lampkins to her
The false nurse then arose and unbolted the door
"If the lady is upstairs, how shall we get her down?
We'll stick her little baby full of needles and pins"
Beau Lampkins rocked hard and the false nurse, she sung
While the tears and red blood from the cradle did run
The lady come downstairs, not thinking of harm
Beau Lampkins then arose and caught her in his arms
"Oh, spare me, Beau Lampkins, spare me a day
And you shall have as much gold as your horse can take away
Oh spare me, Beau Lampkins, oh spare me a while
Can't you hear how mournful my little baby does cry?
Oh spare me, Beau Lampkins, oh spare me an hour
And you shall have my daughter Betsy, my own blooming flower"
"You can keep your daughter Betsy to wait in the flood
Here, hold the silver basin, to catch your heart's blood"
"Oh stay, Daughter Betsy, in your chamber so high
Till you hear your dear father as he comes riding by"
"Oh, father," said Betsy when the landlord come home
"Beau Lampkins killed my mother while you was gone"
Beau Lampkins was hanged to the gallows so high
While the false nurse was burned to a stake standing by