| clerk.mp3 |
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.
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.
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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.  |