An outlandish knight came from the north lands
And he scarcely could leave me alone
And he promised he take me the wide world to see
Oh fly home lost ladies, fly home
He said "Come fetch to me some of your father's bright gold
Fetch me some of your mother's own fee
And come fetch me the best nags from out of your yard
Where they stand full thirty and three
Where they stand full thirty and three"
She's mounted onto her silver-white horse
And he's mounted her father's strong grey
And they've rode till they've come to the rocky sea shore
Three dark hours before it was day
"Oh light off, light off your silver-white horse
And deliver yourself unto me
For six pretty girls have I drowned right here
And the seventh girl you now shall be
Oh the seventh girl you now shall be"
"Pull off, pull off your soft silken gown
And deliver it here unto me
For the fabric's too fine and too costly by far
To let rot in the cold briny sea
And pull off, pull off your good holland smock
And deliver it here unto me
For it seems like a waste to let such clothes be lost
While the fishes they nibble at thee
While the fishes they nibble at thee"
"Well if I must strip down full naked and bare
Cut the thorn that grows there by the brim
Or else it might catch in my curly gold hair
And tear my glittering skin"
Well he's taken his knife and he's turned to the thorn
That grows by the salt water's brim
But so speedy she's run and she's pushed him so hard
That she's thrown this false young man in
To the foam she's fast thrown him in
He's tumbled up high and he's tumbled down low
Till he's come to the rocky sea side, crying
"Catch hold of my hand, my pretty fair lady
And I will make you my bride"
"Oh lie there, lie there, you false hearted man
Make your bed in the deep briny blue
For six pretty girls have you drowned right here
But the seventh girl has drowned you
Oh the seventh girl has drowned you"