Rosaleen Gregory, traditional ballad singer
  • Home
  • What is a Child Ballad?
  • Rosaleen's Child Ballad CDs
  • The Musicians
  • Reviews
    • English Folk Dance and Song
    • Canadian Folk Music (Cameron)
    • Canadian Folk Music (Roud)
  • Videos
  • Blog
  • Contact Rosaleen
clerk.mp3
File Size: 4375 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File

Clerk Saunders

Child  #69  4:37  Vocal, A cappella.

One of the most powerful ballads I know. As with Tristan and Isolde, this ‘deep’ and ‘heavy’ passion leads inexorably to an ‘honour killing’ and death.

Clerk Saunders and May Margaret
Were walking in the garden green,
And deep and heavy was the love
That has befallen these two between.

A bed a bed, Clerk Saunders said
A bed a bed for you and me
Ah no Ah no, the lady said
Until the time we married be.

For in will come my seven brothers
And all their torches burning bright
They’ll say, we have but one sister
And here she’s lying with a knight.

Then I’ll take the sword from my scabbard
And slowly, slowly lift the pin
And you may swear and save your oath
You never let Clerk Saunders in.

You’ll take me up into your arms
And lay me low down on your bed
And you may swear and save your oath
That your bower-floor I did not tread.

They were not well into the room
Nor yet laid well into the bed
When in and came her seven brothers
With all their torches burning red.

And out and spoke the first of them:
O but love be wondrous keen
And out and spoke the second of them:
‘Twere sin to kill a sleeping man.

And out and spoke the third brother:
We had better go and let him be
And out and spoke the fourth brother:
He’ll not be killed this night for me.
And out and spoke the fifth of them:
I know they have been lovers dear
And out and spoke the sixth of them:
They have been in love this many a year.

But out and spoke the seventh brother:
Although there were no man but me
I bear the brand into my hand
Shall quickly make Clerk Saunders die.

And he’s taken out his bright long sword
And drew it three times through the straw
And thro’ and thro’ Clerk Saunders’ body
He’s made that trusty rapier go.

Saunders he started and Margaret she turned
Into his arms as asleep she lay
And there she slept by her love’s side
Until the dawning of the day.

Awake, awake Clerk Saunders, she said
Awake, awake for sin and shame
For the sheets they are asweat, she said
And I’m afraid we shall be ta’en.

But he lay still and sleeped sound
Albeit the sun began to shine
She drew the curtains back a bit
And dull and drowsy were his eyes.

O woe be unto my brother
I wat an ill death he may die
He’s killed Clerk Saunders, an earl’s son
That pledged his faith to marry me.

Rosaleen Gregory: Sheath and Knife
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.