The Wife Of Ushers Well - Steeleye Span

There lived a wife in Usher’s Well

A wealthy wife was she

She had three stout and stalwart sons

And sent them o’er the sea

They had not been from Usher’s Well

A week but barely one

When word came to this carline wife

That her three sons were gone

«I wish the wind may never, never cease

Nor flashes in the flood

Till my three sons return to me

In earthly flesh and blood

Earthly flesh and blood.»

It fell about the Martinmas

The nights were long and dark

Three sons came home to Usher’s Well

Their hats were made of bark

That neither grew in forest green

Nor on any wooded rise

But from the north side of the tree

That grows in Paradise

«Blow up the fire, my merry, merry maidens

Bring water from the well

For all my house shall feast this night

Since my three sons are well.»

Then up and crowed the blood red cock

And up and crowed the grey

The oldest to the youngest said

«It's time we were away—

«For the cock does crow and the day doth show

And the channering worm doth chide

And we must go from Usher’s Well

To the gates of Paradise.»

«I wish the wind may never, never cease

Nor flashes in the flood

Till my three sons return to me

In earthly flesh and blood

Earthly flesh and blood.»