Standard (EADGBE)

 Lady Margaret she sits in her bower sewing

 Ma-ba and the lilly ba

 When she saw the knight with his horn a-blowing

 On the very first morning of May

 Oh I wish that I had that horn I hear blowing

 Ma-ba and the lilly ba

 And that young knight to sleep here on my breast

 On the very first morning of May.

 Now the lady she had these words scarce spoke

 Ma-ba and a lilly ba

 When in at her window the knight come a jumping

 On the very first morning of May

 Oh strange it is, oh strange young woman

 Ma-ba and the lilly ba

 I can scarce blow my horn since I hear you a-calling

 On the very first morning of May

 Go fetch you gold from your father’s table

 Deliver it unto me

 And the fastest horses in your father’s stable

 Where there sat thirty and three

 So he’s mounted him on the black black horse

 And she’s rode the dapple grey

 And they rode til they came to the broad sea-shore

 Just three hours before it was day

 Lie down, lie down off your horse he says

 And deliver it up to me

 For it’s six pretty maids I have drowned here

 And the seventh one you shall be

 Take off, take off all your clothes he said

 And deliver them unto me

For they are far too fine and costly robes

 For to rot in the salt of the sea

 Lie down, lie down off your horse she said

 And turn your back unto me

For it’s not fitting that any gentleman

A naked lady should see

 So he’s lighted him down off his horse so high

 And he’s turned onto she

 And she’s catched around the middle so small

And she’s tumbled him all down in the sea

 Sometimes he sank, sometimes he swam

 And it’s ma-ba and the lilly ba

Oh help, oh help me pretty mistress

Or drowned I shall be

 Lie there lie there oh you false young man

 Lie there instead of me

 For it’s six pretty maids you have drowned there

 And the seventh one has drowned thee

 So she’s mounted her on the black black horse

 And she’s led the dapple grey

 And she rode til she came to her father’s house

 An hour before it was day

 A parrot sitting up at her window side

 It’s ma-ba and the lilly ba

 Oh where have you been my pretty mistress

 An hour before it is day

 Don’t you prattle don’t you prattle my pretty polly

 Don’t you tell the tales on me

 And your cage shall be made of the best glittering gold

And your perch of the best ivory

 But her father sitting up at his window side

 On hearing the parrot he did say

 Oh what is the matter my pretty polly

That you cry so long before day?

 Oh there come a cat to my window side

 And it’s ma-ba and the lilly ba

 And I was calling my pretty mistress

Just to frighten that pussy cat away