Craic in the Stone

Lyrics

Lady Margret was standing in her own room door
A comb in her long yellow hair
When who did she spy but sweet William and his bride
As to the churchyard they drew near
She first threw down her ivory comb
Tied up her long yellow hair
And out of the door went this lady fair
Never to return to there

The day passed away, the night coming on
Most of the men were asleep
Lady Margret appeared all dressed in white
Standing at his bed feet
She said "How do you like your bed?
And how do you like your sheet?
And how do you like your new-found bride
that's lying in your arms asleep?"

He said "Very well do I like my bed.
Much better do I like my sheet.
But most of all that fair, young girl
standing at my bed feet."
Then once he kissed her lily white hand
And twice he kissed her cheek
Three times he kissed her cold corpsy lips
then he fell into her arms asleep.
The night passed away, the day came on
Into the morning light
Sweet William said "I'm troubled in my head
by the dreams that I dreamed last night.
Such dreams, such dreams as these
I know they mean no good.
For I dreamed that my bower was full of red swine
and Lady Margret's covered in blood."

He asked "Is Lady Margret in her room?
Or is she out in the hall?"
But Lady Margret lay in a cold, black coffin
with her pale face to the wall.
"Throw back, throw back those snow white robes
Be they ever so fine.
And let me kiss those cold corpsy lips
for I know they'll never kiss mine."

Then once he kissed her lily white hand
And twice he kissed her cheek
Three times he kissed her cold corpsy lips
then he fell into her arms asleep.

Lady Margret died of pure, pure love
Sweet William died of sorrow
And out of her grave grew a red, red rose
And out of his a briar.