Ah, King Willie he’s gone over the raging foam
He’s wooed a wife and he’s brought her home
And he has wooed her all for her long gold hair
His mother’s wrought them a mighty care
And a withy spell she’s laid on her
And though she has been with child
For long and many’s the year
Yet no child will she ever bear
And in her power she lies in pain
And King Willie he stands all at her bedhead
And down his cheeks the salten tears do run

So King Willie he has to his mother run
And he’s gone there as a begging son
He says ”Me true love has this wondrous steed
The likes of which you have never seen.
On every part of this horse’s mane
Is hanging fifty silver bells and ten
Is hanging fifty bells and ten
This goodly gift shall be your own
If back to me own true love you’ll turn again
That she might bear her baby son

“Ah, this child she will never lighter be
Nor from sickness will she e’er be free
But she will die and she will turn to clay
And you will wed with another maid!”
So sighing says this weary man
As back to his own true love he’s gone again
“I wish me life was at an end!”

So King Willie he has back to his mother run
And he’s gone there as a begging son.
He says “Me true love has this golden girdle
Decked with jewels all around the middle
On every part of this girdle’s hem
Is hanging fifty silver bells and ten
Is hanging fifty bells and ten
This goodly gift shall be your own
If back to me own true love you’ll turn again
That she might bear her baby son

“Ah, this child she will never lighter be
Nor from sickness will she e’er be free
But she will die and she will turn to clay
And you will wed with another maid!”
So sighing says this weary man
As back to his own true love he’s gone again
“I wish me life were at an end!”

And then up spake his noble queen
And she has told King Willie of a plan
Where she might bear her baby son
She says “Now you must get you
Down to the market place
And you must buy you a loaf of wax
And you must shape it as a child that is to nurse
And you must make two eyes of glass
And ask your mother to the christening day
And you must stand all close by as you can
That you might hear what she do say’

So King Willie he’s gone down to the market place
And he has bought him a loaf of wax
And he has shaped it as a child that is to nurse
And he has made two eyes of glass
He’s asked his mother to the christening day
And he has stood all close by as he could
That he might hear what she do say
And how she spat and how she swore
She’s seen the child where no child could be before
She’s seen the babe where there was none before

“And who was it who took out the nine witch knots
Braided in amongst this lady’s locks?
And who was it who took out the combs of care
Braided in amongst this lady’s hair?
And who was it the master kid did slay
That ran and slept all beneath this lady’s bed
That ran and slept all beneath her bed?
And who was it unlaced her left shoe
And who was it who has let her lighter be
That she might bear her baby son?”

And it was Willie who took out the nine witch knots
Braided in amongst this lady’s locks
And it was Willie who took out the combs of care
Braided in amongst this lady’s hair
And it was Willie the master kid did slay
And it was Willie who unlaced her left shoe
And he has let her lighter be
And she has borne her baby son
And many and great were the blessings them upon
And great were the blessings them upon