The Maiden's Lament - Jools Holland

One morning very early, one morning in the spring

I heard a maid in Bedlam who mournfully did sing

Her chains she rattled on her hands while sweetly thus sang she

She sang «I love my love because I know my love loves me»

«Cruel were his parents who sent my love to sea

And cruel, cruel was the ship that bore my love from me

Yet I love his parents since they’re his, although they’ve ruined me

And I love my love because I know my love loves me»

«Should it please the pitying powers to call me to the sky

I’ll claim a guardian angel’s charge around my love to fly

To guard him from all dangers, how happy I should be

Because I love my love and I know my love loves me»

«I'll make a strawy garland, I’ll make it wondrous fine

With roses, lilies, daisies I’ll mix the eglantine

And I’ll present it to my love when he returns home from sea

For I love my love and I know my love loves me»

«Oh if I were a little bird to build upon his breast

Or if I were a nightingale to sing my love to rest

To gaze upon his lovely eyes all my reward should be

For I love my love and I know my love loves me»

«Oh if I were an eagle to soar into the sky

I’d gaze around with piercing eyes where I my love might spy

But ah, unhappy maiden, that love you will never ever see

Yet I love my love and I know my love loves me»

I love my love because I know my love loves me

(I love my love and I know my love loves me)