In Britain,
Tom, Dad and Luke, the farmer
Who had two sons and a daughter dear,
By day and night they were contriving
To fill their parents' hearts with fear.
One brother said unto the other,
I think our servant courts our sister dear.
I'll put an end to all the courtship,
I'll send him silent to his grave.
They asked him to go a -hunting
Without any fear or strife
And these two bold and wicked villains
They took away this
young man's life
And in the ditch there was no water
Where only bush and briars grew
They could not hide the bloody slaughter,
So in the ditches, body they threw.
When they returned at
home from hunting,
She asked for her seventh man.
I ask because I see you whisper
So brothers, tell me if you can
Oh sister, sister, you do offend me
Because you so examined me
We've lost him where
we've been a -hunting
No more of him we could not see
As she lay dreaming on her pillow
She thought she saw her heart's delight
By her bedside, as she lay weeping,
He was dressed all in his bloody gold.
Don't weep for me, my dearest jewel,
Don't weep for me, nor care a pine,
For your two brothers killed me cruel,
In such a place you made me find.
As she arose the very next morning,
With heavy sigh and bitter groan,
The only love that she admired,
She found in the ditch where he
was thrown.
The blood upon his lips was drying,
Her tears were salt as any brine.
She sometimes kissed him,
sometimes cried,
Here lies the dearest love of mine.
Three days and nights she did sit by him,
And her poor heart was filled with woe,
Till cruel hunger crept upon her,
And homeward she then did go.
When she returned that to her brothers,
Sister, what makes you look so thin?
Brother, don't you ask the reason,
And for his sake ye shall be hung.