Bonny Birdy - Steeleye Span

O it’s of a knight on a summer’s night

Was riding o’er the lee, diddle

There he spied a bonny bird

Sitting upon a tree.

Singing:

«Wow for the day!

An gin it for the day!

Oh gin it were day

And gin I were away!

I ha na lang time to stay.»

diddle

«O make hast, make hast, ye gentle knight

What keeps you here so late?

diddle

Gin ye kent what’s doing at hame

I fear ye would look blate» diddle

«O why should I toil day and night

My fair body to kill

For ninety knights at my command

An ladys at my will?»

«O ye lee ye lee ye gentle knight

So loud I hear you lee: diddle

There’s a knight in your lady’s arms

And she lees better than thee.»

diddle

«Ye lee, you lee you bonny bird

But you’ll no lee again

For I will tak my bonny bow

An split your head in twain.»

«But afore ye hae your bow well bent

An a' your arrows yare, diddle

I will flee tae another tree

Where I may better fare.»

diddle

«O whare was ye gotten, and whare was ye clecked?

Pray bonny birdy, tell me:»

«O it was in the green wood

Intill a holly tree

«An a gentleman came riding by

An frae my nest he herryed me

Put me in a silver cage

An ga me to his lady.»

«Then wi good white bread an farrow-cow milk

He bade her feet me aft

An ga her a little wee simmer-dale wanny

To ding me sindle and saft

But wi good white bread an farrow-cow milk

I wot she fed me nought

An wi a little wee simmer-dale wanny

She dang me sare and aft."

«Time he was away

O time he was away

For he that’s in bed

Wi’s another man’s wife

It’s time he was away.»

diddle

So the knight he rade, and the birdy flew …

«Lie still, lie still, ye gentle knight

What makes ye toss an turn?»

«A birdy sang an it troubles me

An I fear a coming storm.»

«But is no your hawk upon its perch?

Your horse eats oats and hay

An ye’ve a lady in your arms

How can ye wish for day?»

diddle

So he’s turned himself at o’er again

To take a little sleep

And when he awoke the lady’s lord

Was standing at their feet.

Crying:

«Wow for the day

For he that’s in bed wi another’s man wife

It’s time he was away» diddle

So then he’s taken out his sword

An straiked it o’er a strae

An thro an thro the false knight’s heart

He 's gard cauld iron gae.

diddle

Then he’s darked the windows up secure

With muttle shudders sprang

An there was neither sun nor sky

But darkness in her room.

She cries:

«Wow for the day!

An gin it for the day!

Oh gin it were day

And gin I were away!

I can na langer stay.»

diddle

«Wow for the day!

An gin it for the day!

For there was never a living soul

That ever came our way.»

diddle