Child Morris stood in the good green wood
With red gold shined his weed
By him stood a little page boy
Dressing a milk-white steed
"I fear for you my master
For your fame it waxes wide
It is not for your rich-rich gold
Nor for your mickle pride
But all is for another Lord's lady
That lives on the Ithan-side."
"Oh, here's to you my bonny-wee boy
That I pay meat and fee
Run you an errand to the Ithan-side
And run straight home to me
If you make me this errand run
It's all against my will
If you make me this errand run
I shall do your errand ill
But I fear no ill of you bonny-boy
I fear no ill of you
I fear no ill of my bonny-boy
For a good bonny-boy are you!"
"Take you here this green mantle
It's all... (um... sorry...)
Bid her come to the good green wood
For to talk to Child Morris
And take you here this shirt of silk
Her own hand sewed the sleeve
Bid her come to the good green wood
And ask not Bernard's leave."
But when he got to the castle wall
They were playing at the ball
Four and twenty ladies gay
Looked over the castle wall
1God make you safe you ladies all
God make you safe and sure
But Bernard's lady among you all
My errand is to her
"Oh, take you here this green mantle
It's all lined with the freece
Come you down to the good green wood
For to talk to Child Morris
Take you here this shirt of silk
Your own hand sewed the sleeve
Come you down to the good green wood
And ask not Bernard's leave."
Well, up there spoke a little nurse
She winked all with her eye
"Oh welcome, welcome bonny-boy
With love tidings to me."
"You lie, You lie, you false nurse
So loud I hear you lie
Bernard's lady among you all
I'm sure you are not she!"
Well up there spoke Lord Bernard
Behind the door stood he
"Oh I shall go to the good green wood
And I'll see who he might be
Go fetch to me your gowns of silk
And your petticoats so small!
I will ride to the good green wood
And I'll try with him a fall."
Child Morris stood in the good green wood
And he whistled and he sang
"I think I see the lady come
That I have loved so long."
He's ridden him through the good green wood
For to help her from her horse
"Oh no, Oh no," cried Child Morris
"No maid was ere so gross!"
"How now, How now, Child Morris?
How now and how do you?
How long have you my lady loved?
This night, come tell to me."
"When first that I your lady loved
In green wood among the thyme
Then she was my first fair love
Before that she was thine
When first that I your lady loved
In green wood among the flowers
Then she was my first fair love
Before that she was yours."
Lord Bernard's taken a long broad-sword
That he was used to wear
And he's cut off Child Morris' head
And he's put it on a spear
He's cut off Child Morris' head
And he's put it on a spear
The soberest boy in all the court
Child Morris' head did bear
And he's put it in a broad basin
And he's carried it through the hall
He's taken it to his lady's bower
Saying, "Lady play at ball
Play you, Play you, my lady gay
Play you from here to the bower
Play you with Child Morris' head
For he was your paramour."
"Oh, he was not my paramour
He was my son indeed
I got him in my mother's bower
All in my maiden weed
I got him in my mother's bower
With mickle sin and shame
I brought him up in the good green wood
All beneath the wind and rain
"Now I will kiss his bloody cheek
And I will kiss his chin
I'll make a vow and I'll keep it true
I'll never kiss man again
Oft times I by his cradle sat
And fond to see him sleep
Now I'll lie upon his grave
The salt tears for to weep."
"Bring pillows for my lady
She looks so pale and wan."
"Oh, none of your pillows Lord Bernard
But lay me on the stone."
"A pox on you, my lady gay
That would not tell it to me!
If I'd have known that he was your son
He'd not have been k**ed by me!"