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