Little Musgrave
Traditonal With New Words By Christy Moore


It fell upon a holy day as many in the year

Musgrave to the church did go to see fine ladies there

some were dressed in velvet red and some in velvet grey

then in came Lord Barnard's wife the fairest among them all


She cast an eye on the Little Musgrave as bright as the Summer sun

said Musgrave unto himself this Lady’s heart I’ve won

I have loved you fair lady for long and manys the day

and I have loved you little musgrave and never a word did say


I have a bower in Bucklesfordberry it's my heart’s delight

I’ll take you back there with me if you'll lie in your arms all night

But standing by was a little footpage from the Lady’s coach he ran

although I am a lady’s page I am Lord Barnard’s man


My Lord Barnard shall hear of this whether I sink or swim

and everywhere the bridge was broken he’d enter the water and swim

My Lord Barnard my Lord Barnard you are a man of life

But Musgrave is at Bucklesfordberry asleep with your wedded wife


If this be so my little footpage, this thing that you tell me

all the gold in Bucklesfordberry I will gladly give to thee

But if this be a lie my little footpage this thing that you tell me

From the highest tree in Bucklesfordberry hanged you will be


go saddle me the black he said go saddle me the grey

sound you not your horns he said lest our coming you’d betray

but there was a man in Lord Barnard’s train who loved the Little Musgrave

he blew his horn both loud and shrill. Away Musgrave Away!


I think I hear the morning cock I think I hear the jay

I think I hear Lord Barnards men I wish I was away

Lie still lie still my Little Musgrave and hug me from the cold

’it's nothing but a shepherd lad a bringing his flock to fold


is not your hawk upon his perch your steed eats oats and hay

You a lady in your arms why would you go away

so they turned around and then kissed twice and then they fell asleep

when they awoke Lord barnard’s men were standing at their feet


how do you like my bed he said and how do you like my sheets

How do you like My fair Lady that lies in your arms asleep

Tis well I like your bed he said, full great it gives me pain

I’d gladly give a hundred pounds to be on yonder Plain


Rise up rise up Little Musgrave rise up and then put on

it’ll not be said in this country I slayed a naked man

Slowly slowly he got up and slowly he put on

Slowly down the stairs thinking he’d be slain


there are 2 swords down by my side and full dear they cost my purse

you can have the best of them and i will have the worst

and the first stroke Little Musgrave struck it hurt Lord Barnard sore

but the next stroke Lord Barnard struck Little Musgrave ne’er struck more


Then up spoke the lady fair from the bed whereon she lay

although you're dead Little Musgrave still for you I’ll pray

How do you like his cheeks he said and how do you like his chin

how do you like his dead body now there's no life within


Tis more I like his cheeks she cried and more I love his chin

tis more I want his dead body then all your kith and kin

He’s taken out his long long sword to strike the mortal blow

through and through the Lady’s heart the cold steel it did go


A grave a grave lord Barnard cried to put these lovers in

with my Lady on the upper hand she came from better kin

For I’ve just killed the finest knight that ever rode a steed

and I’ve just killed the finest woman that ever did a woman’s deed


It fell upon a holy day as manys in the year

Little Musgrave to the church did go to see fine Ladies there