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Janet sits in her lonely room
Sewing a silken seam
And looking out on Carterhaugh
Among the roses green
And Janet sits in her lonely bower
Sewing a silken thread
And longed to be in Carterhaugh
Among the roses red
Sheâs let the seam fall at her heel
The needle to her toe
And she has gone to Carterhaugh
As fast as she can go
She hadnât pulled a rose, a rose
A rose, but only one
When then appeared him, young Tamlin
Says, âLady, let aloneâ
âWhat makes you pull the rose, the rose?
What makes you break the tree?
What makes you come to Carterhaugh
Without the leave of me?â
âBut Carterhaugh is not your own
Roses there are many
Iâll come and go all as I please
And not ask leave of anyâ
And he has took her by the hand
Took her by the sleeve
And he has laid this lady down
Among the roses green
And he has took her by the arm
Took her by the hem
And he has laid this lady down
Among the roses red
Thereâs four and twenty ladies fair
Sewing at the silk
And Janet goes among them all
Her face as pale as milk
And four and twenty gentlemen
Playing at the chess
And Janet goes among them all
As green as any glass
Then up and spoke her father
Heâs spoken meek and mild
âOh, alas, my daughter
I fear you go with childâ
âAnd is it to a man of might
Or to a man of means
Or who among my gentlemen
Shall give the babe his name?â
âOh, father, if I go with child
This much to you Iâll tell
Thereâs none among your gentlemen
That I would treat so wellâ
âAnd, father, if I go with child
I must bear the blame
Thereâs none among your gentlemen
Shall give the babe his nameâ
Sheâs let the seam fall at her hell
The needle to her toe
And she has gone to Carterhaugh
As fast as she could go
And she is down among the weeds
Down among the thorn
When then appeared Tamlin again
Says, âLady, pull no moreâ
âWhat makes you pull the poison rose?
What makes you break the tree?
What makes you harm the little babe
That I have got with thee?â
âOh I will pull the rose, Tamlin
I will break the tree
But Iâll not bear the little babe
That you have got with meâ
âIf he were to a gentleman
And not a wild shade
Iâd rock him all the winterâs night
And all the summerâs dayâ
âThen take me back into your arms
If you my love would win
And hold me tight and fear me not
Iâll be a gentlemanâ
âBut first Iâll change all in your arms
Into a wild wolf
But hold me tight and fear me not
I am your own true loveâ
âAnd then Iâll change all in your arms
Into a wild bear
But hold me tight and fear me not
I am your husband dearâ
âAnd then Iâll change all in your arms
Into a lion bold
But hold me tight and fear me not
And you will love your childâ
At first he changed all in her arms
Into a wild wolf
She held him tight and feared him not
He was her own true love
And then he changed all in her arms
Into a wild bear
She held him tight and feared him not
He was her husband dear
And then he changed all in her arms
Into a lion bold
She held him tight and feared him not
The father of her child
And then he changed all in her arms
Into a naked man
Sheâs wrapped him in her coat so warm
And she has brought him home
- Album:
- Child Ballads