Sweet William arose one May morning
And dressed himself in blue
We want you to tell of something about
The long love between Lady Margaret and you

“I know nothing of Lady Margaret's love
I'm sure she don't love me
But tomorrow morning at eight o'clock
Lady Margaret my bride shall see”

Lady Margaret sat in her own hall door
A-combing down her hair
When she saw Sweet William come a-riding by
Bringing his new bride home

She first threw down her ivory comb
Tied up her long yellow hair
And out of the door went this lady gay
To never return any more

Now late that night when William was in bed
And most all men was asleep
Lady Margaret's ghost came to Sweet William's side
And stood at his own bed feet

Saying, “How do you like your snow-white pillow?
How do you like your sheet?
And how do you like the new found bride
That's a-lying in your arms asleep?”
“Very well, very well do I like my pillow
Better do I like the sheet
But the best one of all is that pretty little girl
That's a-standing at my own bed feet”

So early next morning when William awoke
And most all men was at work
Sweet William said he was troubled in his head
By the dreams that he dreamed last night

“Such dreams, such dreams I do not like
Such dreams they are no good
I dreamed that my hall was filled with wild swine
Lady Margaret was drowning in blood”

So he called his comrades to his side
And numbered them one, two, three
And the last one of them, “Go tell my bride
Lady Margaret I've gone to see”

He rode till he came to Lady Margaret's hall
Pulled all on the ring
There's none so ready as Lady Margaret's brother
For to rise and let him in

“Now, is she in the garden?,” he said
“Or is she in the hall?
Or is she in the upper parlour
Among them ladies all?”
“She neither is in the garden,” he said
“Nor yet into the hall
But yonder she lies in her cold coffin
With her pale face turned to the wall”

Lady Margaret was buried in the old churchyard
William lay anigh her
And out of her grave grew a red, red rose
And out of his a briar

They grew and they grew on the old church tower
Till they could grow not higher
They met and they twined in a true lover's knot
The red rose around the briar