Nick Siepmann - Clyde Water Lyrics

Willie sits in his stable door
And he's combing his coal-black steed
He's doubting on fair Margaret's love
And his heart began to bleed

"Give corn unto my horse, mother
And meat to my man John
And I'll away to fair Margaret's bower
Before the night comes on"

"Oh, stay at home with me, dear Willie
Oh, stay at home with me
Or in the deepest part of the Clyde water
Then you shall drowned be"

"The good steed that I ride upon
Cost me thrice thirty pounds
I'll put trust in his swift feet
To take me safe and sound"

So he's ridden o'er yon high, high hill
And down yon dowy den
And the rushing in of the Clyde water
Would have feared five hundred men

"O roaring Clyde, you roar so loud
Your streams are wondrous strong
Make me a wreck as I come back
And spare me as I'm going"

And when he's got to Margaret's bower
He's turled low on the pin
Saying "Rise up, my good Margaret
Rise up and let me in"

"Oh, who is this at my bower door
Calling May Margaret's name?"
"It's only your first love, little William
This night come to your home"

"Open your castle gates
Open up and let me in
For my boots they're full of the Clyde water
And I'm frozen to the skin"

"Oh, my barns are full of corn, Willie
And my stable's full of hay
And my bower is full of gentlemen
They'll not remove till day"

"Fare thee well to you, May Margaret
It's fare thee well and adieu
For I have won my mother's own curse
In coming this night to you"

So he's ridden o'er yon high, high hill
And down yon dowy den
And the rushing in of the Clyde water
Took Willie's cane from him

And he's leaned him over his saddle-bow
To catch his cane again
And the rushing in of the Clyde water
Took Willie's hat from him

And he's leaned him over his saddle-bow
To catch his hat by force
And the rushing in the Clyde water
Took Willie from his horse

And the very hour that young man sank
Into the parts so deep
Then up and arose this May Margaret
From out from her drowsy sleep

"Come here, come here, my mother dear
And read my dreary dream
I dreamed my lover was at our gates
And nobody let him in"

"Lie down, lie down, you May Margaret
Lie down and take your rest
For since your lover was at our gates
It's but two quarters past"

Then nimbly, nimbly rose she up
And went down to the river's brim
And the louder that this lady cried
The louder grew the wind

And the very first step that she went in
She's waded to her feet
And it's "Oh and alas," this lady cried
"The water's wondrous deep!"

And the very next step that she went in
She's waded to her knee
Says she, "I would wade farther in
If I my true lover could see"

The very last step that she went in
She's waded to her chin
And in the deepest part of the Clyde water
She found sweet William in

"Oh, you have had a cruel mother, Willie
And I have had another
And now we'll sleep in Clyde water
Like sister and like brother"