Prince Heathen

As performed by Frankie Armstrong

on her album, Songs and Balads

 

Young Margret sat in her tower, high
and she's as pale as a milk white swan
When she saw a shadow on the plain
come betwixed her and the sun
 
"Oh, mother is it a thunder cloud-
Or a flight of ravens in the air;
Or a black army with a silver flag
And a ragged man amongst them there?"
 
"Oh, daughter- Go run your little yard
and bid adeau to your flowers so gay
For yonder comes Prince Heathen's men
and I fear they're commin to take you away
 
In there come Prince Heathen then
saying "Good day mother-in-law to you;
And where will I find that sweet little bride
with hands as soft as morning dew?"
 
Young Margret locked her bower door
but his men soon made the hinges spring
And in there come Prince Heathen then
and give to her a gay gold ring.
 
Back at him the ring she flung
She cries, "Of you I have no fear
I'll call your wolfhound seven times
rather than call you husband dear
 
He swore then by her yellow hair-
He'd make her weep and call him Dear
He's taken her in his two dark arms
And layed her on the cold stone floor
 
And when he set her free again
her maidenhead from her he's tain'
"Oh, bony maid, will you weep now?"
"Ya heathenish dog, no yet for you!"
 
He's cast her down in a cabin of stone
Where fourty locks did hang there too
"Oh, bony maid, will you weep now?"
"Ya heathenish dog, no yet for you!"
 
"Come give my lady of the salt, salt meat
and bitter viniger for her brew."
"Oh, bony maid, will you weep now?"
"Ya heathenish dog, no yet for you!"
 
Prince Heathen down from the mountains came
where he'd been hunting with his armoured men
He come unto this fair young maid
all in the prison where she is lain
 
"A drink! A drink, Prince Heathen!" she said
"Even if it's from the muddy well poor!"
"Never a drink! Will you weep now?
"Ya heathenish dog, no yet for you!"
 
He's taken her by her yellow hair
and tied it to his horse's tail.
He's dragged her through the bushes and bryers
that grow so thick all on the plain
 
"Ride slower, slower, Prince Heathen" she says
"Already the blood has filled me shoe!"
"Oh, bony maid, will you weep now?"
"Ya heathenish dog, no yet for you!"
 
He shortened sturrups and on he flew
and with her body he's harrowed the road
Her silken skirt in tatters tore
Her silken blouse was spattered with blood
 
"Ride slower, slower, Prince Heathen" she says
For the road it sorely hurts me knee
"Oh, bony maid, will you weep now?"
"Ya heathenish dog, no yet for thee!"
 
He shortened sturrups and on he flew
He's dragged her through the bryers and thorns
Young Margret give a pittiful cry
and there she's had her little babe born
 
"Oh, how can I wrap me sweet little babe-
Seein as I've nothing to roll him in"
He give to her his saddle blanket
"That'll roll him from cheek to chin"
 
As she took the blanket from his hand
tears down her cheeks, they trickling ran
"Oh, bony maid, will you weep now?"
"Ya heathenish dog, no yet for you!"
 
"I'm weeping for me own little son,
your blanket's too rough to roll him in
Ever alas the day I rue
That ever I met such rougues as you!"
 
He says "Go wash my baby in the milk
and dress my lady in the silk
when her thaw breaking hands must bow
and well I love my lady now"
 
She says "When violets bloom on the window pane
and roses grow on the kitchen floor
it's then that I'll return again
and be your bride forever more."