The Over-Courteous Knight

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Traditional

1. Yonder comes a courteous knight
   Lustily raking over the hay.
   He was well ‘ware of a bonny lass
   As she came wandering over the way:
   Then she sang Down a down, hey down derry,
   Then she sang Down a down, hey down derry.
   
2. Jove speed you, fair lady, he said,
   Amongst the leaves that be so green:
   If I were a king, and wore a crown,
   Full soon, fair lady should thou be a queen!
   Then she sang Down a down, hey down derry,
   Then she sang Down a down, hey down derry.
   
3. Also, Jove save you, fair lady,
   Among the roses that be so red:
   If I have not my will of you,
   Full soon, fair lady, shall I be dead!
   Then she sang Down a down, hey down derry,
   Then she sang Down a down, hey down derry.
   
4. Then he looked east, then he looked west,
   He looked north, so did he south:
   He could not find a privy place,
   For all lay in the devil's mouth.
   Then she sang Down a down, hey down derry,
   Then she sang Down a down, hey down derry.
   
5. If you will carry me gentle sir,
   A maid unto my father's hall,
   Then you shall have your will of me
   Under purple and under pall.
   Then she sang Down a down, hey down derry,
   Then she sang Down a down, hey down derry.
   
6. He set her upon a steed,
   And himself upon another,
   And all the day he rode by her
   As though they had been sister and brother.
   Then she sang Down a down, hey down derry,
   Then she sang Down a down, hey down derry.
   
7. When she came to her father's hall
   It was well walled round about,
   She rode in at the wicker-gate
   And shut the four-eared fool without.
   Then she sang Down a down, hey down derry,
   Then she sang Down a down, hey down derry.
   
8. You had me, quoth she, abroad in the field
   Among the corn, amidst the hay,
   Where you might had your will of me -
   For, in good faith, sir, I ne'er said nay!
   Then she sang Down a down, hey down derry,
   Then she sang Down a down, hey down derry.
   
9. You had me also amid the field
   Among the rushes that were so brown,
   Where you might had your will of me -
   But you had not the face to lay me down!
   Then she sang Down a down, hey down derry,
   Then she sang Down a down, hey down derry.
   
10. He pulled out his nut-brown sword
    And wiped the rust off with his sleeve,
    And said: Jove's curse come to his heart
    That any woman would believe!
    Then she sang Down a down, hey down derry,
    Then she sang Down a down, hey down derry.
    
11. When you have your own true-love
    A mile or twain out of the town,
    Spare not for her gay clothing -
    But lay her body flat on the ground!
    Then she sang Down a down, hey down derry,
    Then she sang Down a down, hey down derry.