Lyrics Clyde Waters (Child 216) - Anaïs Mitchell, Jefferson Hamer

Clyde Waters (Child 216)

Willie stands in his stable door
And he’s combing his coal black steed
And he’s thinking of fair Margaret’s love
And his heart began to bleed
«Mother, fetch my hat and coat
Help me tie them on
I’ll away to fair Margaret’s bower
Before the night comes on»
«Stay at home with me, dear Willie
Tonight there comes a storm
I’ll lay the table handsomely
Your bed be soft and warm»
«Your tables, mother, and your beds
They cannot bring me rest
I’ll away to fair Margaret’s bower
Before the night has passed»
«If you go to fair Margaret’s bower
My curse will go with thee
And the deepest part of the Clyde Water
Drowned you shall be»
«The good steed that I ride upon
Cost me thrice thirty pounds
I’ll put my trust in his swift feet
To take me safe and sound»
He’s rode over the high, high hill
Down the dewy glen
And the rushing in the Clyde Water
Would have feared five hundred men
«Roaring Clyde, you roar so loud
Your streams are wondrous strong
Make me a wreck as I come back
Spare me as I’m going»
And when he came to fair Margaret’s gate
He’s called to her within
«Rise up, rise up, maid Margaret
Rise up and let me in!»
«Who's that stands at my garden gate
Calling maid Margaret’s name?»
«It's only your first love, sweet William
This night come to your home —
Open your door, maid Margaret
Open and let me in
My boots are full of the Clyde Water
And I’m shivering to the skin"
«My stable is full of horses, Willie
My barns are full of hay
And my bowers are full of gentlemen
They’ll not remove 'til day»
«Fare thee well, maid Margaret
Fair thee well, adieu
A curse my mother laid on me
For coming this night to you»
He’s rode over the high, high hill
Down the dewy glen
And the rushing in the Clyde Water
Took Willie’s hat from him
Then he’s leaned him over the saddlebow
To fetch his hat again
And the rushing in the Clyde Water
Took Willie’s coat from him
And he’s leaned him over his saddlebow
To catch his coat by force
And the rushing in the Clyde Water
Took Willie from his horse
The very hour this young man sank
Down in the watery deep
Then up and rose maid Margaret
Out of her drowsy sleep
«Come here, come here, my mother dear
I’ve dreamed a dreary dream
I dreamed my lover was at our gate
And nobody let him in»
«Lie down, lie down, maid Margaret
Your lover’s come and gone
The sport you would have made with him
I’ve played it for my own»
Nimbly, nimbly, rose she up
Down to the river’s brim
But the louder that this lady cried
The louder blew the wind
The very first step that Margaret took
She stepped up to her feet
And «Oh, and alas», this lady sighs
«Your water’s wondrous deep»
And the very next step that she went in
She’s waded to her knee
Says she, «I would wade farther in
If I my true lover could see»
And the very last step that she went in
She stepped up to her chin
And the deepest part of the Clyde Water
She found sweet William in
«You have had a cruel mother, Willie
I have had another
And now we sleep in Clyde Water
Like sister and like brother»