The Shepherd Lad - Heidi Talbot

Once there was a shepherd lad kept sheep upon the hill
And he's laid his pipe and his crook aside and there he's slept his fill
He woke up on a riverbank on a fine May morning
And there he spied a lady swimming in the clothes that she was born in
So he raised his head from his green bed and he approached the maid
Put on your clothes my dear he says and do not be afraid
It's fitter for a lady fair to sew a silken seam
Than to rise on a fair May morning and swim against the stream
Well if you'll not touch my mantle and you'll leave my clothes alone
Then I'll give you all the money sir that you can carry home
I'll not touch your mantle and I'll leave your clothes alone
But I'll take you out of the clear water my dear to be my own
And he's taken her out of the clear water and he's rowed her in his arms
Put on your clothes my dear he says and hide your bounteous charms
He's put her on a milk white steed himself upon another
And it's all along the way they rode like sister and like brother
She rode up to her father's gate and she's rapped upon the pin
And ready stood a porter there to let the fair maid in
When the gates were opened it's so nimbly she stepped in
She said Kind sir you are a fool without and I'm a maid within
So fare thee well my modest boy I thank you for your care
But had you done as you desired I'd never have left you there
I will sew no silken seam on a fine May morning
You can bide your time till your time runs out so take this as fair warning
I will sew no silken seam on a fine May morning
You can bide your time till your time runs out so take this as fair warning