John Wesley Harding
Little Musgrave (Live)
[Verse 1]
As it fell out upon a day
As many in the year
Musgrave to the church did go
To see fair ladies there

[Verse 2]
Some came down in red velvet
And some came down in pall
The last to come down was the Lady Barnard
The fairest of them all

[Verse 3]
She cast a look at little Musgrave
As bright as the summer sun
Then bethought this little Musgrave
This lady's love I've won

[Chorus]
"Good day, good day, you handsome youth
God make you safe and free
What would you give this day, Musgrave
To lie one night with me?"

[Verse 4]
"Well, I dare not for my lands, lady
I darе not for my life
For the ring on your white fingеr shows
You are Lord Barnard's wife"
[Verse 5]
"Lord Barnard's to the hunting gone
I hope he'll never return
You shall slip into his bed
And keep his lady warm"

[Verse 6]
"There's nothing for to fear, Musgrave
You nothing have to fear
We'll put a page outside the gate
To watch till morning clear"

[Chorus]
And woe be to that little footpage
And an ill death may he die
For he's away to the green, green wood
As fast as he can fly

[Verse 7]
When he came to the wide water
He took to his belly and swam
When he came to the other side
He took to his heels and ran

[Verse 8]
When he came to the green, green wood
'Twas as dark as dark can be
And he found Lord Barnard and his men
Asleep beneath the tree
[Verse 9]
"Rise up, rise up master," he said
"Rise up and speak to me
Your wife's in bed with little Musgrave
Rise up right speedily"

[Chorus]
"Well, if this be true you tell to me
Then gold shall be your fee
But if this be false you tell to me
Then hanged you shall be
Go saddle me the black," he said
"Go saddle me the grey
And sound you not the horn," said he
"Lest our coming it would betray"

[Verse 10]
Now there was a man in Lord Barnard's train
Who loved the little Musgrave
And he blew his horn both loud and shrill
Away, Musgrave, away

[Verse 11]
"I think I hear the morning cock
I think I hear the jay
I think I hear Lord Barnard's horn
Away, Musgrave, away"
[Verse 12]
"Lie still, lie still, little Musgrave
Keep me from the cold
It's nothing but a shepherd's boy
Driving his flock to the fold"

[Verse 13]
"Is not your hawk upon its perch?
Your steed is eating hay
You a gay lady in your arms
And yet you would away"

[Verse 14]
So he's turned him right and round about
Then he fell fast asleep
When he awoke Lord Barnard's men
Were standing at his feet

[Chorus]
"Well, how do you like my bed, Musgrave?
How do you like my sheets?
And how do you like my fair lady
That lies in your arms asleep?"

[Verse 15]
"Well, it's well I like your bed," he said
"Well I like your sheets
But better I like your fair lady
Who lies in my arms asleep"

[Chorus]
"Well, get up, get up," Lord Barnard cried
"Get up as swift as you can
For it never will be said in my country
That I slew an unarmed man
I have two swords in one scabbard
Full dear they cost my purse
And you shall have the best of them
I shall have the worst"

[Verse 16]
So slowly, so slowly he get up
Slowly he put on
Slowly down the stairs he goes
Thinking to be slain

[Verse 17]
And the first stroke Musgrave took
It was both deep and sore
And down he fell at Barnard's feet
And word he never spoke more

[Chorus]
"Well, how do you like his cheeks, lady?
Yeah, how do you like his chin?
And how do you like his fair body
Now there's no life within?"

[Verse 18]
"Well, it's well I like his cheeks," she said
"Well I like his chin
Better I like his fair body
Than all your kith and kin"

[Chorus]
And he's taken up a long, long sword
To strike a mortal blow
And through and through the lady's heart
The cold steel it did go

[Verse 1]
It fell out upon a day
As many in the year
Musgrave to the church did go
To see fair ladies there

[Outro]
This is a, this next one is a request from my historical consultant, so I feel I should do it. Would you like to mute that for a second, so I don't make bad noise? Little moments like that, little showbiz moments of perfection like that, are such an exception that I revel in them.