Sheath & Knife

It's whispered in the kitchen, it's whispered in the hall
The broom blooms bonny, the broom blooms fair
"The king's daughter goes with child," among the ladies all
And they'll never go down to the broom anymore

It's whispered by the ladies one unto the other
The broom blooms bonny, the broom blooms fair
"The king's daughter goes with child, unto her own brother"
And they'll never go down to the broom anymore

He's ta'en his sister down to his father's deer park
The broom blooms bonny, the broom blooms fair
With a yew-tree bow and arrow slung fast across his back
And they'll never go down to the broom anymore

"And when that you hear me give a loud cry"
The broom blooms bonny, the broom blooms fair
"Shoot from your bow an arrow, and there let me lie"
And they'll never go down to the broom anymore

"And when that you see that I am lying dead"
The broom blooms bonny, the broom blooms fair
"Put me in a grave with the turf all at my head
And we'll never go down to the broom anymore"

And when he has heard her give a loud cry
The broom blooms bonny, the broom blooms fair
A silver arrow from his bow he suddenly let fly
And they'll never go down to the broom anymore

And he has dug a grave both long and deep
The broom blooms bonny, the broom blooms fair
He has buried his sister with their babe all at her feet
And they'll never go down to the broom anymore

And when he is come to his father's own hall
The broom blooms bonny, the broom blooms fair
There was music and dancing, there were minstrels and all
And they'll never go down to the broom anymore

All the ladies, they asked him, "What makes thee in such pain?"
The broom blooms bonny, the broom blooms fair
"I've lost a sheath and knife I will never find again"
And they'll never go down to the broom anymore

"All the ships of your father's a-sailing on the sea"
The broom blooms bonny, the broom blooms fair
"Can bring as good a sheath and knife unto thee"
And they'll never go down to the broom anymore

"All the ships of my father's a-sailing on the sea"
The broom blooms bonny, the broom blooms fair
"Can never, ever bring such a sheath and knife to me
And I'll never go down to the broom anymore"