Clyde Water Songtext
von Sam Carter

Willie sits in his stable door
And he′s combing his coal black steed
And 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, if you go to Margaret′s bower
Without the leave of me
Then in the deepest part of Clyde water
Drowned you shall be
Oh, the good steed that I ride upon
Cost me thrice thirty pounds
And I′ll put trust in his swift feet
To take me safe and sound


And he's ridden o′er the high, high hill
And down yon dowie den
And the rushing in the Clyde water
Could have feared five hundred men
Oh, 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

When he′s got to Margaret's bower
He′s told low on the pin
Saying, "Rise up, me good Margaret
Rise up and let me in"
Who is this at my bower door
Calling May Margaret's name?
It's only your first love, little William
This night come to her home

Open up your castle gates
Open and let me in
For my boots they are 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


Well, it′s fare thee well to you, May Margaret
And it's fare thee well and adieu
For I have won my mother′s own curse
In coming this night to you

And he's ridden o′er the high, high hill
And down yon dowie den

Till the rushing in 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 the Clyde water

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

And the very hour that young man sank
Into the part so deep
Up and awoke this May Margaret
Held from her drowsy sleep
Oh, come here, come here, me mother dear
And read me dreary dream
I dream my lover was at our gates
But nobody let him in

Lie down, lie down, May Margaret
Lie down and take your rest
For since your lover was at our gates
It's but two quarters past
So nimbly, nimbly rose she up
And went down to the river′s brim
But 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"

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